The Sudanese government has publicly accused the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of launching a drone attack on Port Sudan, the country’s wartime administrative capital, in a major escalation of tensions between the two nations. The allegation marks the first time Sudan has directly accused the Gulf nation of engaging in military operations on its soil amid a devastating civil war that has entered its third year.
Sudan’s ambassador to the United Nations, Al-Harith Idriss, made the explosive claim during a press briefing in New York on Monday. He stated that the drone strike, which occurred on 4 May, was launched from a UAE military base with support from Emirati naval vessels operating in the Red Sea.
“This act of aggression against our sovereign territory cannot be ignored. We have every reason to believe this was a calculated and deliberate attack,” Idriss said. “Evidence points to the UAE’s direct military involvement in support of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which we have long warned about.”
The Port Sudan drone strike, according to Idriss, was allegedly in retaliation for a Sudanese army operation carried out a day earlier in Nyala — a city under RSF control — where an Emirati warplane was reportedly targeted.
Deteriorating Ties Between Sudan and UAE
Khartoum recently cut diplomatic ties with the UAE, accusing the Gulf country of supplying arms and financial support to the RSF, a powerful paramilitary group that has been locked in a bloody conflict with the Sudanese Armed Forces since April 2023. The UAE has repeatedly denied the allegations, and officials in Abu Dhabi have yet to respond publicly to the latest claims regarding the drone strike.
“This level of interference by a foreign power represents a dangerous development,” Idriss added. “We call upon the United Nations, the African Union, and the Arab League to launch an immediate and independent investigation into the attack and ensure those responsible are held accountable.”
Port Sudan: Once a Safe Haven Now Under Threat
Until recently, Port Sudan had remained one of the few relatively safe areas in the war-torn country. The city had served as a critical hub for the Sudanese government, housing key administrative operations, as well as diplomatic missions and international humanitarian agencies. Its perceived stability made it a vital lifeline for aid deliveries and civilian evacuation efforts.
However, since the beginning of May, the port city has been subjected to a series of drone attacks, many targeting Sudanese military installations, the city’s main airport, and vital fuel storage depots. These strikes have raised fears that Port Sudan could become the next major battleground in the conflict.
“The situation is rapidly deteriorating,” said a senior military official in Khartoum, who spoke on condition of anonymity. “We are dealing with a new level of threat that extends beyond internal rebellion — this now includes external aggression. The nation must brace for a potentially wider regional confrontation.”
A Nation in Crisis
Sudan’s civil war, sparked by a bitter dispute over the transition to civilian rule following the 2019 ousting of former President Omar al-Bashir, has plunged the nation into one of the worst humanitarian crises in recent memory.
The fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF has led to the displacement of over 13 million people, many of whom are now living in overcrowded refugee camps or have fled to neighboring countries. The conflict has also sparked widespread famine, with aid organizations warning of an imminent food catastrophe, especially in conflict-affected regions like Darfur and Kordofan.
According to humanitarian agencies, tens of thousands have died since hostilities erupted, and outbreaks of disease are compounding the suffering of the population. Hospitals have been bombed, health systems have collapsed, and access to clean water remains limited in many parts of the country.
“The humanitarian situation in Sudan is dire,” said Fatima El-Amin, a regional director for Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders). “If drone attacks begin targeting cities like Port Sudan, we risk losing one of the few remaining corridors for aid operations. It is crucial that the international community responds decisively to these developments.”
International Reactions and Silence from the UAE
While the Sudanese government has formally requested an investigation by global and regional bodies, the international response so far has been muted. The United Nations has not issued an official statement, and both the African Union and Arab League have yet to comment on Sudan’s appeal.
Analysts say that the alleged involvement of the UAE, a key player in Middle Eastern geopolitics with strong ties to Western and regional powers, complicates the diplomatic landscape.
“If confirmed, this would mark a significant escalation and would place the UAE in direct violation of international norms concerning sovereignty and non-interference,” said Dr. Hassan Ghandour, a political analyst specializing in Horn of Africa affairs. “It may also reshape alliances and force a reassessment of regional security frameworks.”
Call for Global Action
Sudan’s leadership is now pushing for stronger action from the international community, warning that failure to address the drone strikes could embolden other foreign actors to take similar steps.
“This is not just about Sudan. It’s about protecting the principle of national sovereignty,” Ambassador Idriss told reporters. “We are at a tipping point. If international organizations fail to act decisively now, the consequences will reverberate far beyond Sudan’s borders.”
As Sudan reels from years of conflict, economic collapse, and mounting civilian casualties, the latest developments signal that the road to peace remains fraught with new and dangerous challenges — now potentially stretching beyond its borders.
