Sudan: fears of massacre as paramilitaries close on city

The UN Security Council has called on all countries including the UAE to stop supporting Sudan’s warring parties, warning that the occupation of Al Fashir by the Rapid Support Forces paramilitary group could lead to a large-scale massacre. Al Fashir is Darfur’s largest city and the last obstacle to RSF domination of Sudan. Emirati officials deny involvement, but sources say the UAE has been a key RSF backer, supplying weapons and funding in pursuit of long-term economic and political interests. It has extensive investments in Sudanese land, grain, livestock, gold and real estate, according to Cameron Hudson of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and has chosen the RSF leader known as Hemedti as guardian of those interests. Politically, the UAE believes the RSF is committed to ensuring that Islamist forces present before Sudan’s revolution don’t return. Hudson, formerly with the CIA, says Al Fashir will fall despite Emirati pleas for restraint.