Talks Between Sudan and UAE in Washington Surrounded by Secrecy
The Sudanese government has held secret talks with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in Washington.
A Sudanese diplomatic source told Sudan Tribune that the government delegation — consisting of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Deputy Director of the Intelligence Service, and the Director of Military Intelligence, who are currently in Washington — presented to the U.S. side a vision for ending the ongoing tensions with the UAE.
Journalist Attaf Mohamed Mukhtar revealed that a direct meeting took place between Foreign Minister Mohy-Eddin Salim and UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Shakhbut bin Nahyan in Washington. He explained that the talks were conducted under a strict veil of secrecy, while sources confirmed that Washington has invited both parties to hold further discussions in the coming period.
Mukhtar noted that the Emirate of Dubai has offered mediation to resolve the major crisis between Sudan and Abu Dhabi. The Sudanese government accuses the UAE of involvement in the ongoing war alongside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), by providing military and logistical support and helping recruit thousands of mercenaries from neighboring countries — accusations that the UAE has consistently denied.
In light of these allegations, the government refuses to accept the UAE as a mediator in resolving the crisis and objects to its participation in the Quartet mechanism, which also includes the United States, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia.
Foreign Minister Mohy-Eddin Salim arrived in the United States two days ago on an official visit aimed at discussing efforts to end the war that has been raging in Sudan for more than two years.
The Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs later announced in a statement that the minister’s visit to Washington aims to continue dialogue with the U.S. side, strengthen bilateral relations and cooperation between the two countries, and support peace in Sudan.
The source confirmed that Salim has been given a mandate by the army leadership to resolve the dispute with the UAE, noting that Washington is keen to achieve a settlement that ends the tensions.
He explained that the discussions between the Sudanese government and U.S. officials are close to resolving the crisis with Abu Dhabi. He also stated that the Sudanese government has received a U.S. proposal to end the war, along with technical arrangements concerning the militia — including the integration and dissolution of only pre-war forces. He added that the government’s vision in this regard involves assembling those forces in specific areas and considering their integration or demobilization.
The source further clarified that the mediators’ proposal regarding the militia does not include those recruited after the war began.
A military delegation also held indirect consultations with the militia under U.S. sponsorship in recent days to develop a shared vision aimed at achieving a humanitarian truce.