UAE foils plot to smuggle weapons to Sudan's army

Officials say scheme involved former intelligence chief Salah Gosh

The UAE says it has thwarted a plot to smuggle weapons and military equipment to the Sudanese Armed Forces, which is fighting a civil war against paramilitaries.

The plot involved a private plane and five million rounds of machinegun ammunition, said Dr Hamad Al Shamsi, UAE attorney general.

He said the incident “represents a severe breach of the state’s security by turning its territory into a hub for illicit military trade targeting a country suffering from internal conflict”, state news agency Wam reported.

Investigations revealed the involvement of “cell members from Sudanese military leaders”. This included former intelligence chief Salah Gosh, a former officer of the intelligence agency, a former adviser to the finance minister, and a political figure said to be close to Gen Abdel Fattah Al Burhan and his deputy Yasser Al Atta. Several Sudanese businessmen were also implicated, according to Dr Al Shamsi.

The cell members completed a deal, worth millions of dollars, including Kalashnikov rifles, ammunition, machineguns and grenades. The arms were then moved to an import company in the UAE. The plot involved an Emirati airport, which was not named.

A recent UN report accused Sudan’s military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces of committing widespread atrocities against civilians in the continuing civil war.

Although Sudan's army had previously accused the UAE of arming the RSF, the report – compiled by the UN Panel of Experts on Sudan and submitted to the Security Council – did not mention these claims or include any findings against the UAE. The Emirates has repeatedly denied the accusations and stressed that it does not support any warring parties, but rather calls for an immediate and unconditional end to the conflict.

Fake contracts and invoices

Investigators said Mr Gosh played a central role in trafficking illegal military equipment within the UAE, with the group earning a profit margin of $2.6 million above the value of the deals.

Investigators said the transfer was facilitated by a company owned by a fugitive cell member who was working for the SAF, in co-ordination with Col Othman Al Zubair, who is said to be in charge of financial operations in the Sudanese military.

Former Sudanese intelligence chief Salah Gosh was said to have played a central role in the plot. AFP

Fake contracts and invoices were created to try to claim the payments were used for importing sugar. These deals were carried out at the request of the SAF's’ Armament Committee, chaired by Gen Al Burhan and his deputy, with their full knowledge and approval, investigators concluded.

The cell members were said to have been directly assigned to broker and finalise the transactions by Ahmed Rabie Ahmed Al Sayed, a political figure close to the Sudanese Commander-in-Chief. The cache arrived in an aircraft that landed to refuel in an airport in the UAE.

It was declared the aircraft was carrying medical supplies. However, cargo of a different kind was discovered after warrants were issued by the attorney general. Authorities also seized contracts relating to the deals, forged shipping documents, as well as audio recordings and messages exchanged among cell members, Wam reported.

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.

Network uncovered

Several companies owned by a Sudanese-Ukrainian businessman were found to be involved, including one operating in the UAE. The firms were said to be supplying the Sudanese army with weapons, ammunition, grenades and drones. One of the companies involved is listed as facing sanctions from the US.

Part of the financial proceeds of the deal were also seized from the hotel rooms of two of the suspects. The attorney general said prosecutors were continuing their investigation in preparation for referring the suspects to “urgent trial proceedings”.

Urgent steps needed

Looking ahead, a UAE official said this incident “underscores the urgent need to halt the flow of weapons into Sudan”.

“This conflict has unleashed catastrophic levels of violence and destruction across Sudan,” a statement read. “Both the SAF and RSF must be held accountable and must immediately cease the violence. Civilians must never be targeted, and violations of international humanitarian law must be addressed.”

The UAE is calling for three urgent steps, the official added. The first of these is an immediate ceasefire across Sudan, the second is an end to the weaponisation of humanitarian assistance and the third is the launch of a credible political process that delivers a civilian government.

“The international community must act with urgency and resolve to stop the bloodshed and prevent further atrocities,” the statement adds.

In a letter to the Security Council, UAE ambassador to the UN Mohamed Abushahab accused Sudan’s representative of misusing the Council to spread misinformation.

Mr Abushahab said that Sudan’s representative sought to "instrumentalise" a UN Panel of Experts report before its official publication as a Security Council document to support the SAF’s "disinformation campaign", which was "unacceptable".

He said Sudan’s envoy had publicised confidential committee reporting, selectively disseminating extracts taken out of context to misleadingly advance the SAF’s narrative and intentionally omitting findings that contradicted or did not confirm his allegations.

The UAE noted that, contrary to the misrepresentation of the Sudanese representative, the report submitted in accordance with paragraph 2 of Resolution 2725 “makes no findings against the UAE”.

“The UAE has been unequivocal: it has not and is not providing support or supplies to any of the warring parties in Sudan since the outbreak of the civil war in 2023," the letter stated.