SIGN THE PETITION: ARMS EMBARGO ON THE UAE NOW

To: Peter Kyle, Secretary of State for Business and Trade and Yvette Cooper, Foreign Secretary, 

Recent images of horrific atrocities occurring in El-Fasher in the Sudanese region of Northern Darfur, as the city fell to the UAE-backed Rapid Support Forces (RSF), are just one example of the deadly violence Sudan has faced in recent years. In 2024, the RSF was denounced by the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights as perpetuating genocide against the Malasit non-Arab people of Western Darfur.

It has been revealed that British-made military equipment, sold to the UAE, is being used by the RSF to massacre the Sudanese people. This includes British engines, made by Cummins Inc, found in armoured vehicles and British-made small weapons target devices made by Militec. 

Despite the UK government having knowledge that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has diverted arms exports received from other countries to the RSF, the UAE remains one of the UK’s biggest arms customers. The British government has issued £825m worth of single export licences for arms to the UAE between 2020-2024, the 9th largest recipient in that period, in addition to open licences. This includes £219m worth of aircraft, helicopters, and drones, £293m of military electronic equipment, £112m target acquisition, weapon control and countermeasure systems, and £89m of grenades, bombs, missiles, and countermeasures.

The government has also still not provided satisfactory answers to the pressing questions asked by Ellie Chowns MP and other Members in parliament, urging for an arms embargo on the UAE and a full review of the UK’s not fit for purpose arms export-licensing system. 

These arms exports are lethal. More than 150 000 people have been killed. More than 12 million people have been forced to flee their homes. There are currently almost 25 million people facing acute hunger and over 8 million facing famine. The RSF are using starvation as a weapon of war. 

Arms embargo on the UAE now! The flow of British weapons from the UAE to the RSF must end immediately!

Specifically, we demand the government:

•  Implement an immediate arms embargo on the UAE.
  • This would mean that all current arms export licences from the UK to the UAE would be suspended, and no more approved. 
• Open an inquiry into the failure of the UK’s arms export licensing regime to prevent diversion of UK made arms from the UAE to the RSF in Sudan, and provide full transparency to Parliament. 
• Use all political, economic, and diplomatic means available to put pressure on the UAE to end its military and political support for the RSF’s genocidal campaign. 
• Along with allies and other key powers, use the UK’s role as Penholder on Sudan at the UN to engage in intensive diplomatic, political, and economic efforts to bring an end to the devastating civil war in Sudan, and to support a just peace and transition to civilian rule.