Hamdok’s advisor reveals the UAE’s conditions for stopping support for the rebel militia

Hamdok’s advisor reveals the UAE’s conditions for stopping support for the rebel militia...

The advisor to Hamdok (the resigned Prime Minister), revealed the conditions requested by the UAE to stop supporting the rebel militia, especially after the increasing pressure from the international community on the United Arab Emirates to stop fueling the war and support the continuation of the atrocities committed in Sudan by... While supplying the Rapid Support Forces with weapons, several diplomatic sources reported that the United Arab Emirates informed them of five conditions in order to stop its unconditional support for the Rapid Support Forces militia and allow the war in Sudan to stop

1- Acquisition of Al-Fashqa land: The United Arab Emirates insists on acquiring the Al-Fashqa area, which has an area of   one million acres and is located in the Sudanese state of Gedaref on the border of Sudan and Ethiopia. The Ethiopian Amhara militias occupied the Al-Fashqa region and exploited it for a long time before the Sudanese army regained it during the Tigray War in November 2020. In April-May 2021, the UAE attempted to acquire these fertile agricultural lands in Al-Fashqa through an investment allocation agreement, in which the UAE obtained 50% of Land, while Sudan and Ethiopia got 25% each as a solution to the dispute between Sudan and Ethiopia. The UAE offer was rejected due to strong political resistance from a number of Sudanese political actors. Abiy Ahmed’s recent statements before the Ethiopian Parliament may indicate his rejection of such an arrangement in the current circumstances in Sudan and his unwillingness to engage directly in the Sudanese conflict. However, the rapid support militia's movements towards Gedaref indicate the agency's interest in this area.

2- Managing the Al-Jazeera agricultural project for a period ranging from 25 to 50 years and monopolizing its crops. The project, the largest stream irrigation project in the world, covering an area of   2.2 million acres, suffered from neglect that led to the deterioration of the irrigation system over the past two decades during the rule of the Muslim Brotherhood regime. However, the project demonstrated significant economic benefits and effectiveness during the 2020 planting seasons under the transitional civilian government. With the availability of water, fertile land, and a natural irrigation system based on gravity, investment in rehabilitating the project will have great economic feasibility and contribute to ensuring food security, which is the concern of the Emirates, which imports 90% of its food needs from abroad. But the monopoly and control of any external party in managing the project will disrupt the system of participatory management with farmers and local residents of the project, which has been the system that has prevailed since its establishment in 1925. Perhaps this is the reason behind the emergence of the Rapid Support Forces militia, since it took control of Al-Jazira State in December. 2023 By forcing villagers and farmers in rural areas of Gezira State to forcibly move from their areas in a systematic and deliberate manner, to facilitate such a deal.

3- The Unwanted List: This is a long list of individuals who are considered to be silenced or removed from the scene by any means. This list is not limited to a specific political or ideological orientation; Rather, it includes individuals (civilian and military) that the UAE considers problematic and views as obstacles in its relationship with Sudan.

4- Structure and formation of the government: The United Arab Emirates does not object to the continuation of the current senior leadership of the Sudanese Armed Forces in its positions, but it insists on forming a government through an alliance that will come forward to rule the country. The UAE has identified certain names as acceptable candidates for the position of prime minister in Sudan. The list includes the name of Dr. Abdullah Hamdok, but is not limited to him.

5- Red Sea arrangements: Diplomatic sources also reported that the UAE informed the Russians that it does not mind establishing the Russian tactical and logistical naval base in the Red Sea to the south of Port Sudan, but that this is conditional on granting the UAE its control over the establishment and management of the new commercial port in Abu Amama, according to 200 kilometers north of Port Sudan. In late 2022, the UAE concluded an agreement with the Sudanese government to build a new commercial port on Sudan's Red Sea coast. The agreement to establish Abu Amama Port was through a partnership between the Abu Dhabi Ports Group, owned by the United Arab Emirates, and the Dubai-based Invictus Investment Company, which is part of the Dahl Group, affiliated with Sudanese businessman Osama Dawoud. Osama Dawoud has a direct connection to the Al-Fashqa proposal submitted by the Emirates and previously rejected