DUBAI,— Lawmakers at the European Parliament passed a resolution on July 8, 2026 focused on Sudan’s civil war, taking particular aim at attacks by the Rapid Support Forces in El Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan state.

Residents of El Obeid say they are still facing unlawful strikes. One resident described near daily drone attacks hitting water systems, fuel supplies and the local power station, facilities the population depends on for survival.

Over three weeks in June, fifteen drone strikes killed at least 45 civilians in the city and nearby areas.

The vote marks a turning point because it is the first time the parliament has directly named the United Arab Emirates UAE as a party fueling the war, and it calls for steps to halt that backing.

Since fighting began in 2023, diplomats and policymakers had largely avoided naming the UAE directly, a reluctance that had kept the parliament from formally criticizing Emirati support for the RSF, a force accused of widespread abuses.

Even as international concern over the Sudan crisis has grown in recent weeks, that attention had not translated into scrutiny of the UAE specifically.

The UN Human Rights Council again condemned outside support propping up the conflict without identifying the UAE by name.

Human Rights Watch said its research showed Colombian private military contractors, hired through a UAE based firm, passed through Emirati military bases before being sent to Sudan to assist the RSF.

The rights group also said Colombian fighters were on the ground when the RSF seized the city of El Fasher in 2025, adding to evidence the UAE is helping sustain the RSF’s ability to carry out war crimes.

The RSF has also received weapons and ammunition, some manufactured in Europe, in breach of the United Nations arms embargo on Darfur, according to the group.

With RSF abuses drawing wider attention, the European Union should impose targeted sanctions on companies involved.

These include Abu Dhabi based Global Security Services Group and its chief executive, Mohamed Hamdan al-Zaabi, over the alleged recruitment of the Colombian fighters.

Sanctions should also extend to airlines and airport operators tied to the UAE’s air bridge supplying the RSF.

The bloc should also suspend military and defense cooperation with the UAE until it ends its support for the militia.

(With files from europarl.europa.eu , Human Right Watch )

Copyright © 2026 Dubai Diplomacy. All rights reserved.

Your support matters! Consider buying us a coffee — every bit helps keep independent news alive.

Related posts:

UAE trained Colombians linked to Sudan war crimes: HRW UAE-backed Colombian mercenaries aided Sudan’s RSF: CIG report – BBC NBA warned over UAE sportswashing risk over Sudan abuses: HRW $24 million Dubai property network linked to Sudan’s RSF: report Sudan blames UAE, Ethiopia for drone attack on Khartoum airport Sky News to end ties with UAE’s Sky News Arabia over Sudan war reporting UAE human rights activist Ahmed Mansoor marks 9 years behind bars Will Syria’s Sharaa hand over Jasem al-Shamsi to UAE in tit-for-tat move?