U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stressed the importance of securing a humanitarian ceasefire in Sudan during a call on Friday with United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed.

This came shortly after Washington's top diplomat called for action to halt the flow of weapons to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

The conflict between the Sudanese army and the RSF, which began in April 2023, has resulted in what the United Nations has described as the world’s largest humanitarian crisis, occurring at a time when global aid budgets are shrinking.

As of mid-October, around 12.5 million Sudanese had been displaced both within the country and abroad, with an additional 140,000 fleeing RSF attacks on al-Fashir and towns in the Kordofan region.

UAE rejects claims it supports RSF

Sudan’s army has accused the United Arab Emirates of supplying the RSF with weapons, a claim that United Nations experts and U.S. lawmakers have found credible.

However, the UAE's ambassador to the U.N. in Geneva, Jamal Al Musharakh, rejected these allegations on Thursday (13 November), stating that the UAE does not provide support to either of the warring parties.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Rubio stated that the U.S. was doing everything possible to end the conflict and apply pressure on the parties involved.

"Action must be taken to cut off the weapons and support the RSF continues to receive as they advance," Rubio said.

When asked about the UAE's role in the conflict, Rubio refrained from naming the country directly.

"We know who the parties are involved... that’s why they’re part of the Quad, along with other countries. At the highest levels of our government, the case is being made and pressure is being applied to the relevant parties."

"This needs to stop," he added.

He did not rule out designating the RSF as a terrorist organisation, stating that the U.S. would consider such a move if it would help bring an end to the fighting.

The RSF’s capture of al-Fashir on 26 October solidified its control over the Darfur region in the ongoing civil war with the Sudanese army.

Tens of thousands of people who fled al-Fashir remain unaccounted for, according to the UN refugee agency, (UNHCR) raising serious concerns for their safety amid reports of rape, killings, and other abuses from those who escaped.

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