A new UN report has accused both Sudan’s military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of committing widespread atrocities against civilians as they vie for control in a two-year civil war that has devastated the country.
The report, seen by The National on Tuesday, outlines how Sudan's Armed Forces (SAF) resorted to indiscriminate aerial bombardments, particularly around El Fasher, the scene of the most intense fighting in the south-western region of Darfur, and partnered with newly recruited militias to launch ground offensives in strategically important areas.
The RSF consolidated control over most of Darfur in 2024 through violence. According to the report, these tactics included “targeted attacks on internally displaced persons, committing widespread acts of conflict-related sexual violence, inciting violence among communities to claim historically contested territories and detaining individuals perceived as aligned with the Sudanese Armed Forces”.
UN Security Council’s final report on Sudan exposes grave violations by warring parties and debunks false SAF accusations against the UAE
Dr Anwar Gargash,
diplomatic adviser to the UAE President
El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur state, is a historically significant and strategically vital urban centre in western Sudan. Control of the city has become a flashpoint in the conflict.
Sudan descended into war in April 2023, when tensions between SAF, led by Gen Abdel Fattah Al Burhan, and the RSF, commanded by Gen Mohamed Dagalo, erupted into open conflict. What began as a power struggle between the two former allies – who jointly staged a coup in 2021 – has spiralled into one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
Tens of thousands of people have been killed, although estimates for the death toll are uncertain, and nearly 13 million have been displaced. Some areas of the country are facing famine as aid agencies struggle to gain access to deliver relief supplies.
This month, 22 countries and a coalition of NGOs working on war relief efforts in Sudan met in Britain's capital for the London Sudan Conference, the latest in a series of international mediation efforts that have ended without a breakthrough.
The 42-page report, which was compiled by the UN Panel of Experts on Sudan and submitted to the Security Council, says civilians have borne the brunt of the violence, with more than 470,000 people displaced from El Fasher alone.
“Many more [were] subjected to arbitrary arrests, sexual violence and targeted killings,” the report read.
“The humanitarian crisis was further compounded by the obstruction of aid delivery, with both SAF and RSF exploiting bureaucratic processes and checkpoints to control resources. Civilians in RSF-controlled territories faced acute food shortages and endemic violence, while indiscriminate air strikes by SAF decimated critical infrastructure, leaving urban populations trapped and vulnerable.”
'False accusations'
The Sudanese army had previously accused the UAE of “complicity in genocide” for allegedly arming the RSF and has taken the case to the International Court of Justice. The UN report does not mention these allegations. The UAE has repeatedly denied the accusations, calling them “false and baseless”.
“UN Security Council’s final report on Sudan exposes grave violations by warring parties and debunks false SAF accusations against the UAE,” Dr Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the President, said on X. “We call for an immediate, unconditional ceasefire, serious peace talks, unhindered humanitarian aid and independent civilian government.”
The UAE is a leading humanitarian donor to Sudan, having contributed more than $3.5 billion in aid in the past decade. Since the outbreak of the conflict, it has provided more than $600 million in relief assistance.
"This report provides no support for the SAF's unsubstantiated allegations," said UAE permanent representative to the UN, Mohamed Abushahab, in a statement. "It does not make a single finding against the UAE."
The Emirates has also expressed growing concern about the regional implications of Sudan’s instability, particularly its impact on Red Sea maritime security.
“Port Sudan is increasingly mirroring the situation in Al Hodeidah, Yemen, by endangering freedom of navigation and commercial shipping, posing a significant global threat to international maritime security,” a senior UAE official told The National.
The Houthi rebels in Yemen and the Sudanese military leadership, both facing international sanctions, maintain control over strategically important ports along the Red Sea.
The Houthis, backed by Iran, hold the Hodeidah port, which is vital for humanitarian aid and maritime traffic. From their coastal positions, the Houthis have launched numerous missiles and disrupted shipping in the Red Sea in attacks they say are being conducted in solidarity with Palestinians amid Israel’s war on Gaza, which began after the attacks on October 7, 2023.
Meanwhile, Sudan’s military controls Port Sudan, the country’s main seaport.
Observers argue that both groups' grip on Red Sea access points raises concerns about the security of global maritime routes and the politicisation of trade.
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Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.
Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.
Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.
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The Details
Article 15
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Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
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Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
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