UAE: Criticism Grows – Ready to Walk Away?

So, the UAE is now admitting...mistakes? Give me a break. After years of shoveling money and weapons into the Sudanese black hole, after propping up a militia that makes ISIS look like a boy scout troop, NOW they're saying "Oops, we didn't mean to"?

The "Oops, We Didn't Mean To Start a Genocide" Tour

Anwar Gargash, the UAE’s senior diplomatic envoy, is out there in Bahrain doing his best "aw shucks" routine, claiming they should've put their foot down on the 2021 coup. Right. Like they weren't actively undermining the civilian government before the coup. Like they weren't pushing for Hemedti, the RSF commander and all-around lovely guy, to be in charge of economic policy. I mean, come on!

It's like watching a pyromaniac feign surprise when the building burns down.

And let's be real, this "admission" ain't about some sudden moral awakening. It's about reputational damage. The UAE's been getting hammered for its support of the RSF, especially after the mass killings in El Fasher. The Biden administration even slapped sanctions on Hemedti and some UAE-based companies. Suddenly, playing the neutral mediator looks a lot more appealing than being known as the guys who armed the Janjaweed 2.0.

What I want to know is, where's the accountability? Are they going to actually do anything to make amends, or is this just a PR stunt to smooth things over with the West?

Oil, Gold, and a Dash of Counter-Revolution

Let's not forget what's really driving all this: resources and regional power plays. Sudan's got gold, land, and a strategic location on the Red Sea. The UAE wants it all. The article mentions the Abu Amama port deal – 6 billion bucks! – that got canned by Sudan's leader. You think they're just going to walk away from that? Offcourse not.

And then there's the whole "counter-revolution" angle. The UAE sees Islamism as a threat and has been meddling in the region for years to prop up autocrats and crush any hint of democracy. They did it in Egypt, they did it in Libya, and they tried to do it in Sudan.

The Chatham House report cited in one of the articles says the UAE continues to benefit from Sudan’s conflict gold... No surprise there. As criticism grows, is UAE ready to walk away from Sudan’s RSF militia?

It's a classic case of "we're not the bad guys, we're just preventing something worse from happening." Except, in reality, they're often making things worse. A lot worse.

Seriously, how many more countries have to burn before these guys realize their "stable transition" actually means "stable autocracy that benefits us"?

So, What Now?

The US hopes the UAE and Egypt will collectively pressure their proxies (the RSF and the Sudanese army, respectively) into a ceasefire. Good luck with that. These guys have been fighting for years, fueled by outside money and weapons. A strongly worded statement from Washington probably ain't gonna cut it.

The article also mentions that the UAE insists both the RSF and the army have disqualified themselves from shaping Sudan’s future. Oh, really? So, who does get to shape Sudan's future? The UAE? The US? Because last time I checked, the Sudanese people weren't exactly clamoring for more foreign intervention.

I'm left wondering if any of this even matters. The damage is done. Sudan is in ruins, millions are displaced, and the UAE is probably already looking for its next playground.

The Smoke and Mirrors Show