Prof. Yasin Aktay Said UAE of Coordinated Role With Israel in Sudan and Gaza

In a column published on Monday, Turkish academic and political analyst Prof. Dr. Yasin Aktay argued that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is playing a key role in fueling violence in Sudan while aligning its regional policies with those of Israel. Aktay described the situation as “UAE–Israeli complicity” from Gaza to Sudan’s Darfur region.

According to Aktay, the international spotlight briefly returned to Sudan after the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) — led by Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo “Hemedti” and allegedly backed by the UAE — captured the city of El-Fasher following a 500-day siege. He accused the RSF of committing widespread atrocities such as massacres, forced displacement, rape, and looting.

Aktay emphasized that Sudan’s conflict should not be viewed as a civil war between equal sides. He said Sudan’s internationally recognized transitional institutions faced an armed rebellion led by Hemedti, whose forces include Janjaweed militias and mercenaries recruited from Chad, Libya, and other African countries. Aktay added that Hemedti had been previously implicated in war crimes in Darfur under the Bashir regime.

He argued that the RSF lacks any political program or vision and operates primarily through looting and destruction. Aktay noted that Sudanese government forces had recently recaptured Omdurman, Gezira State, and Khartoum, significantly weakening Hemedti’s military position before the RSF regrouped in Darfur.

El-Fasher’s Strategic Role

Aktay claimed that the RSF’s assault on El-Fasher was enabled by direct UAE support. He described the city as strategically critical due to its proximity to Libya and Chad, its control over regional supply routes, and its military facilities.

He warned that recognizing RSF control over the region could pave the way for a Libya-like fragmentation of Sudan — a development he says aligns with Emirati interests.

A Wider Pattern in the Region

Aktay argued that UAE foreign policy has become a destabilizing force across the Muslim world, claiming that Emirati fingerprints appear “wherever turmoil exists.” He referenced an open letter by Egyptian politician Ayman Nour, who had publicly questioned UAE’s motives in supporting the RSF despite allegations of mass atrocities.

Aktay questioned whether the pursuit of gold, political leverage, or regional influence could justify the cost in Sudanese lives. He warned that the UAE’s actions threaten its standing among Muslim populations.

Parallel With Gaza

Drawing a comparison with Gaza, Aktay criticized the notion that “Muslims are doing this to Muslims,” arguing that the UAE’s regional strategies mirror Israel’s. He claimed that Abu Dhabi’s policies — including supporting Hemedti and pressuring Sudan’s transitional government toward normalization with Israel — align with Israeli strategic goals.

He further alleged that online censorship and misinformation about Sudan’s war are being financially and politically supported by the UAE to obscure the scale of RSF abuses.

Regional Implications

Aktay suggested that the fall of El-Fasher may be linked to broader geopolitical objectives, potentially including control over territory extending toward the Nile. He argued that the response of Egypt, Türkiye, and Saudi Arabia will be pivotal in determining the region’s trajectory.