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U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio underscored the urgent need for a humanitarian ceasefire in Sudan during a call with United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed on Friday. The appeal comes shortly after Rubio stressed that the international community must act to halt the flow of weapons reaching the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), whose ongoing conflict with the Sudanese army has left Sudan in a state of profound humanitarian distress.
The civil war, which began in April 2023, has spiraled into what the United Nations calls the world’s largest humanitarian crisis, with global aid resources stretched thin. As of mid-October, around 12.5 million Sudanese have been displaced, both internally and across borders. A further 140,000 people have fled recent RSF assaults on al-Fashir and towns in the Kordofan region, heightening international concern.
Tensions escalated this week after Sudan’s army accused the UAE of supplying weapons to the RSF, a claim deemed credible by U.N. experts and several U.S. lawmakers. However, UAE Ambassador Jamal Al Musharakh firmly rejected the allegations, stating the country provides no support to either side in the conflict.
Rubio, speaking to reporters, emphasized that Washington is applying pressure on all actors contributing to the violence. While refraining from directly naming the UAE, he noted that the relevant parties “know who they are” and confirmed active diplomatic engagement through the Quad and other channels. Rubio also left open the possibility of the U.S. designating the RSF as a terrorist organization if it would help curb the conflict.
The RSF’s capture of al-Fashir on October 26 secured its dominance over the Darfur region, marking a major shift in the now two-and-a-half-year war. The U.N. refugee agency reported that tens of thousands who fled al-Fashir remain unaccounted for, fueling fears after escapees reported killings, sexual violence, and other abuses.
The United States remains adamant that the violence must end, with Rubio stating simply: “This needs to stop.”
