BRUSSELS – Human Rights Watch (HRW) urged the European Union to impose targeted sanctions on the United Arab Emirates (UAE) over what it described as its support for Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF), saying a recent European Parliament resolution marked the first time the institution explicitly identified the UAE as contributing to the war in Sudan.

In a statement, the organization said the European Parliament’s resolution, adopted on July 9, represents a significant development because it explicitly called on states, including the UAE, to end financial, military and other forms of support for the RSF.

Human Rights Watch said civilians in El Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan State, continue to face unlawful attacks, with drones carrying out near-daily strikes against critical infrastructure, including water, electricity and fuel facilities. It said 15 drone strikes over a three-week period in June killed at least 45 civilians in El Obeid and surrounding areas.

The organization said diplomats and policymakers had previously avoided naming the UAE directly despite repeated concerns over external support that has sustained the conflict. It said the European Parliament’s resolution marked the first time the institution explicitly referred to the UAE’s alleged role in fueling the war.

Human Rights Watch said its investigations found that Colombian private military contractors, recruited through the Abu Dhabi-based Global Security Services Group, transited through UAE military bases before being deployed to Sudan to support the RSF. It also said Colombian fighters were present during the RSF’s capture of Al Fasher in 2025.

According to the organization, those findings provide further evidence that the UAE has assisted or otherwise substantially contributed to the RSF’s capacity to commit war crimes. It also alleged that the UAE supplied the RSF with weapons and ammunition, including some of European origin, in violation of the U.N. arms embargo on Darfur.

Human Rights Watch called on the European Union to impose targeted sanctions on Global Security Services Group, its Chief Executive Officer Mohamed Hamdan Al Zaabi, and other companies, including airlines and airport operators, that it said participated in the UAE-operated air bridge supporting the RSF.

The organization also urged the European Union to suspend military and defense cooperation with the UAE and make any future cooperation conditional on Abu Dhabi ending its support for the RSF.

The European Parliament last week adopted a resolution condemning alleged war crimes in Sudan, calling for expanded humanitarian assistance, targeted sanctions against those responsible for atrocities, broader accountability efforts, and consideration of listing the RSF as a terrorist organization under the European Union’s sanctions framework.