Emirati-backed Sudan humanitarian conference draws criticism from Sudanese government

February 13, 2025 (ADDIS ABABA) – The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) is hosting a high-level conference on Friday to address the humanitarian situation in Sudan, organized by the United Arab Emirates, amid criticism from the Sudanese government.

The conference, which will be held at the UNECA headquarters in Addis Ababa, is expected to be attended by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who arrived in the Ethiopian capital on Thursday, along with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and the presidents of South Sudan, Kenya, Uganda and Egypt. Former Sudanese Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok and representatives from other countries are also expected to participate.

The conference is being held despite strong objections from the Sudanese government, which has criticized the UAE for backing the meeting. Last Monday, Malik Agar, deputy chairman of Sudan’s Sovereign Council, said in a statement that “the UAE is taking detrimental steps to hold a special conference on the situation in Sudan on February 14, on the sidelines of the African Union summit in Addis Ababa.”

He added that this move constitutes a crime and a full-fledged aggression against an African country seeking to protect its land and sovereignty and contradicts the principles of the African Union, which are based on respect for sovereignty and unity.

Agar said that Abu Dhabi is trying to impose its political agenda at the upcoming conference by emphasizing the participation of the UN Secretary-General and the Ethiopian Prime Minister, especially as it is being held on the same day that African leaders are participating in the Peace and Security Council meeting.

Diplomatic sources in Addis Ababa told Sudan Tribune that the UAE is organizing the conference, which will see financial pledges from several capitals and organizations, including Abu Dhabi, which is expected to provide about $200 million to support humanitarian conditions in Sudan.

The conference, which is being held under the slogan “High-Level Humanitarian Conference for the People of Sudan,” aims to mobilize regional and international support for the humanitarian response in Sudan, and launch a strong and unified call for humanitarian pauses during the holy month of Ramadan.

The UAE, as one of the main contributors to humanitarian aid to Sudan and Africa, allocated 70% of its pledge announced last April during its participation in the international humanitarian conference on Sudan, amounting to 100 million US dollars, to UN agencies and its humanitarian and relief organizations, in support of humanitarian efforts in Sudan.

According to the Emirates News Agency (WAM), the UAE previously granted $8 million to the World Health Organization.

Last year, Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashemi indicated that her country had launched, since the beginning of the crisis in Sudan, an air bridge with Sudan and neighbouring Chad, with the aim of providing all forms of support and assistance to the Sudanese people and alleviating the severity of humanitarian conditions in Sudan and neighbouring countries.

She stressed that her country has provided $130 million to support the humanitarian response and 9,500 tons of food and medical supplies since the start of the crisis through the operation of 148 relief supply aircraft and a ship carrying about 1,000 tons of urgent relief supplies.

She also said that her country supported camps for Sudanese refugees in Abche and in a number of areas in Chad.

In addition, the World Food Program sent a food aid plane carrying 100 tons to Sudanese refugees in South Sudan.

In contrast, the Sudanese government says that the UAE is fueling the conflict in Sudan by providing military and logistical support to the Rapid Support Forces.

The army previously displayed Emirati weapons in many sites recovered from the RSF, and submitted a complaint to the Security Council, saying that it has evidence and documents proving Abu Dhabi’s involvement in transporting weapons and supplies to the RSF, which is accused of committing widespread violations against civilians in many cities it controlled in Sudan.