UAE Thwarts Major Illegal Arms Transfer to Sudanese Military

UAE security services have thwarted an attempt to illegally transfer a significant cache of weapons and military equipment, including five million rounds of ammunition, to Sudan's Armed Forces. Authorities arrested members of a cell involved in unauthorized mediation and illicit arms trafficking, with the operation implicating several Sudanese military leaders, such as former intelligence chief Salah Gosh, as well as businessmen and officials close to Sudanese military leadership. The investigation revealed that fake contracts and commercial invoices were used to disguise payments as a sugar import deal, while the actual proceeds stemmed from arms deals involving rifles, machine guns, and grenades. The transfers were facilitated through complex financial arrangements and coordination with Sudanese military finance officials. The UAE's intervention comes amid regional tensions and ongoing accusations—denied by the UAE—that it supports armed groups in Sudan's civil conflict. Sudan's military has not commented on the operation.