U.S. President Joe Biden on Tuesday called on nations to stop supplying weapons to rival military factions in Sudan, as the UN Secretary-General expressed regret over global inaction in preventing the conflict, which has caused a severe humanitarian crisis.
“The world must stop arming the generals. We need to speak with one voice and tell them: ‘Stop tearing your country apart. Stop blocking aid to the Sudanese people. End this war now,’” Biden said during his address at the UN General Assembly.
His speech followed a meeting in Washington with the leader of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which has been accused of providing arms to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The U.S. has accused the RSF of committing war crimes against ethnic Africans in Darfur.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres, speaking before Biden, expressed frustration with foreign interference in Sudan’s “brutal power struggle,” which has led to “horrific violence.”
“A humanitarian catastrophe is unfolding as famine spreads, yet outside powers continue to interfere, without a unified approach to achieving peace,” Guterres said.
Biden highlighted U.S. efforts to mediate the crisis. In August, a U.S.-led conference in Switzerland resulted in limited commitments from both warring sides to improve access to humanitarian aid.
“The United States has led global efforts to provide aid to Sudan, and alongside our partners, we have engaged in diplomatic talks to try to stop the fighting and prevent a wider famine,” Biden added.
Despite concerns over the UAE’s support for the RSF — whose forces previously worked with Abu Dhabi in operations against Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi insurgents — Biden has maintained close ties with the UAE, designating it a “major defense partner.” The UAE has also been praised by Washington for recognizing Israel in 2020.
In a joint statement on Monday, Biden and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan expressed concerns about the “risk of imminent atrocities” in Darfur and called on all parties to comply with international humanitarian law.
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Sudan’s army has reportedly received foreign support as well, including assistance from Iran.
Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, whose nation has had comparatively less involvement in Sudan than other regional powers, called for international efforts to ensure “the unity of state institutions and the sovereignty and stability of Sudan.”
The World Health Organization recently reported that at least 20,000 people have been killed since the war began, though estimates from some, like U.S. envoy Tom Perriello, suggest the death toll could be as high as 150,000 — surpassing even the casualties in Gaza’s ongoing conflict.
More than 10 million people, roughly one-fifth of Sudan’s population, have been displaced both internally and across borders, as the war exacerbates an already dire humanitarian situation. A UN-backed assessment has warned of the potential for widespread famine in Sudan, at levels not seen in decades.