UAE says welcomes US-backed peace plan for Sudan

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DUBAI — The United Arab Emirates on Sunday said it welcomed a US-backed peace plan for the war in Sudan, where the Gulf country has repeatedly faced accusations of fuelling the devastating conflict.

Abu Dhabi "has welcomed the Comprehensive Peace Plan for Sudan announced by US senior advisor for Arab and African Affairs Massad Boulos" the UAE's foreign ministry spokesperson wrote on X.

The Emirates asserted a commitment "to supporting regional and international efforts aimed at securing an immediate ceasefire" and "to working with the Quad", a grouping of the US, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the UAE that is mediating in Sudan.

On Tuesday, Boulos, who is the father-in-law of US President Donald Trump's daughter as well as a senior adviser, voiced "cautious optimism" on reaching a broader peace plan.

Speaking at a donors' conference for Sudan in Washington Boulos said the initiative would focus on five points, starting with a humanitarian truce and followed by the protection and return of civilians, a permanent ceasefire, a political transition and then reconstruction.

Since April 2023, the war between Sudan's army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has left tens of thousands dead, around 11 million people displaced and caused one of the world's worst humanitarian crises, including areas of famine.

Truce efforts have repeatedly failed to produce a sustained ceasefire.

In January, Sudan's army said it was considering a new proposal from the US and Saudi Arabia for a truce with the RSF.

Talks led by the Quad have been deadlocked for months since army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan accused the group of bias in favour of the UAE.

At the Tuesday donors' conference for Sudan, the Emirates promised $500 million in humanitarian aid with the US promising $200 million in the 2026 fiscal year.

Sudan's army last year broke off ties with Abu Dhabi, accusing it of arming the RSF, which the UAE denies despite reports from UN experts, US lawmakers and international organisations supporting the allegations.

On Thursday, UN-backed experts warned famine was spreading in Sudan's western Darfur region, which has seen some of the worst fighting of the war in recent months.