Van Hollen Introduces Joint Resolution of Disapproval & Legislation to Pause Weapons Sales to UAE Until Administration Certifies UAE is Not Supporting RSF in Sudan

Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) introduced a joint resolution of disapproval as well as legislation aimed at pausing U.S. weapons sales to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) until the United States certifies that the UAE is not arming the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan. Credible reports have shown evidence that the UAE is providing weapons to the RSF, perpetuating Sudan’s civil war, which has left over 25 million Sudanese facing acute food insecurity. Recent studies have estimated that over 61,000 people have died in the state of Khartoum since the beginning of hostilities last year. The United States has determined that both the RSF and Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) have committed war crimes, and has gone further to determine the RSF has also committed crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing. Similar legislation has been introduced in the House of Representatives by Congresswoman Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.) who is also joining the Senator in filing a Joint Resolution of Disapproval. The text of the legislation is available here, and the text of the joint resolution of disapproval is available here.

“The civil war in Sudan has torn apart the country, leaving over 25 million of its people, half of the population, in the midst of a humanitarian crisis. The United States has unequivocally condemned the RSF’s prolonging of this war as well as the atrocities the RSF has committed – including ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity – and we have sanctioned RSF officials. It’s therefore imperative that the United States is not providing weapons to countries that are in turn complicit in arming the RSF. That is why the United States should pause weapons sales to the UAE until the Administration is able to certify that the UAE is not arming the RSF. The UAE is an important partner in the Middle East, but the United States cannot sit idly by as it aids and abets the humanitarian disaster in Sudan – we must use our leverage to try to bring this conflict to a peaceful resolution,” said Senator Van Hollen.

Rep. Sara Jacobs, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, said: “Earlier this year, I met with Sudanese refugees at the Chad-Sudan border who shared harrowing stories with me about the violence committed by the RSF in their villages and how they escaped. Today, it’s even more dire with 12 million people displaced, famine or famine-like conditions and disease outbreaks across the country, and tens of thousands of people killed. The UAE is one of the biggest outside actors fueling the violence in Sudan and yet, the U.S. is on the brink of selling the UAE another $1.2 billion in weapons that could end up in the hands of the RSF. That’s why I’m proud to lead this effort with Sen. Van Hollen to block this weapons sale and stop U.S. arms sales to the UAE until they cease support for the RSF. The U.S. has the leverage to alleviate the suffering in Sudan; we need to use it now.”

The Rapid Support Forces were formed from the Janjaweed militias in 2013 by Omar Bashir, a former Sudanese ruler. Bashir used the Janjaweed militias to counter other insurgencies, including rebels in the western Darfur region in the early 2000s. The actions committed by these militias in western Darfur were labeled by the United States as genocide and ethnic cleansing against non-Arab communities. Bashir’s support for the RSF allowed it to seize gold mines and other assets. The RSF is currently led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, also known as “Hemedti,” a former Janjaweed militia leader. According to the U.S. State Department, he has overseen the RSF has they have committed war crimes, ethnic cleansing, and crimes against humanity during the current conflict, creating a through-line of atrocities from the Janjaweed militias in the early 2000s to the civil war today.