The United Arab Emirates has firmly denied allegations that an Emirati drone was used in an attack on Khartoum International Airport on Monday, reportedly launched from Ethiopia.
In a statement issued late Tuesday, a UAE official dismissed the claims as “fabrications,” describing them as part of a “calculated pattern of deflection” aimed at shifting blame and prolonging Sudan’s ongoing conflict.
The accusations were made by Sudan’s army spokesman, who alleged that escalating foreign involvement in the war included drone operations originating from Ethiopia’s Bahir Dar Airport. He claimed Emirati-linked drones had struck multiple locations in Sudan in March and May, though these assertions have not been independently verified.
Sudan has long accused the UAE of supporting the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which has been engaged in a brutal three-year conflict with the Sudanese army. The UAE has repeatedly denied the allegations, stating that its position is focused on supporting peace efforts.
The conflict, which erupted over disagreements between the Sudanese army and the RSF on military integration and democratic transition, has devastated large parts of the country. The RSF initially seized Khartoum but was later pushed out, consolidating its stronghold in Darfur and opening new fronts, including in Blue Nile state near the Ethiopian border.
Regional reactions have intensified following the airport attack. Egypt and Saudi Arabia both condemned the strike and warned against foreign interference in Sudan’s internal conflict. Meanwhile, Massad Boulos, a senior adviser on Arab and African affairs in the United States, called for an end to external support to all parties involved.
The Ethiopian government has also denied any involvement in facilitating such operations from its territory.
As tensions rise, Sudanese officials say they are preparing to respond to what they describe as a serious violation of sovereignty, while international actors continue to urge restraint and renewed peace efforts.
