UAE calls for immediate Sudan ceasefire

GENEVA — The United Arab Emirates has issued a firm call for an immediate ceasefire in Sudan, declaring that an “urgent humanitarian truce” is the only viable path forward to halt the country’s devastating civil war.

The statement was delivered during a session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, which focused heavily on the escalating violence and dire situation in the Sudanese city of El-Obeid.

Strong Condemnation of Violence

In the address, reported by the state news agency WAM, the UAE strongly condemned the ongoing hostilities that have plagued the nation since civil war erupted in 2023 following a 2021 military coup that toppled a civilian-led transitional government.

“The UAE unequivocally reiterates its strongest condemnation of all violations of international law committed by both warring parties across Sudan, including the targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure,” the statement read.

Call to Expand UN Arms Embargo

Beyond demanding a halt to the fighting, the UAE put forward a critical policy recommendation to the international community: expanding the existing United Nations arms embargo to cover the entire territory of Sudan. The Emirates emphasized that widening the embargo is a necessary measure to protect innocent civilians, curb active hostilities, and secure safe, unhindered access for humanitarian aid groups trying to reach affected areas.

The UAE’s diplomatic push in Geneva builds on recent multilateral efforts. Last month, the Emirates welcomed a joint statement advocating for the re-establishment of a civilian-led government in Sudan. That framework was constructed during a three-day conference in Addis Ababa, which brought together various Sudanese stakeholders alongside representatives from the United States, the United Kingdom, Norway, Italy, Greece, France, Belgium, and Germany.

The World’s Worst Humanitarian Crisis

The call for intervention comes as Sudan sits gripped by what the UN describes as the world’s worst ongoing humanitarian crisis.

The scale of the devastation is staggering. Approximately 14 million people have been forced from their homes, including 9 million who remain internally displaced within Sudan’s borders.

The Armed Conflict Location and Event Data (ACLED) project estimated that at least 59,000 people had been killed as of April, though monitors and officials widely believe the true death toll is significantly higher and continues to climb daily.

As the war increasingly transforms into a high-tech conflict driven by drone warfare, civilian populations remain trapped in the crossfire—a reality the UAE stresses can only be resolved through immediate diplomatic intervention and a total halt to military operations.