![Fighters from the Sudanese Rapid Support Forces sit on an armed vehicle in the city of Nyala, in south Darfur, on May 3, 2015 [ASHRAF SHAZLY/AFP via Getty Images]](https://standforsudan.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/GettyImages-472529934-scaled-e1740484568411.webp)
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https://the-darkbox.com/category/reports/uae-crimes-in-sudan/
Dark Box has obtained, through highly confidential channels, a classified communication circulated by United Arab Emirates embassies across several allied countries. The document, shared by a senior official under strict anonymity, outlines a coordinated strategy to restrict and suppress Sudanese refugee protests critical of the UAE’s support to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan.
This leak represents the clearest evidence to date of a transnational effort designed to shield Abu Dhabi from public scrutiny over its role in the Sudan conflict.
A Directive Distributed Across Continents
According to the source, the internal email was sent to selected diplomatic posts in the Middle East, East Africa, Europe, and North America. Its tone is described as firm, urgent, and explicitly instructive. Embassies are urged to discreetly engage host governments to:
- Deny protest permits
- Restrict public gatherings
- Increase policing around politically active Sudanese communities
The stated justification is the need to “protect strategic relations and prevent hostile narratives.”
The email warns that public demonstrations by Sudanese refugees could “damage state partnerships, undermine stability and embolden adversarial media.” Embassies are ordered to report regularly to the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs on activism within Sudanese communities, including meetings, mobilization attempts, and indicators of upcoming protests.
Shaping How Governments View Sudanese Refugees
The language of the directive suggests a deliberate attempt to portray Sudanese activists as threats rather than citizens exercising freedom of expression. Embassy staff are reportedly instructed to approach host governments informally, minimizing paper trails and emphasizing the need to protect the UAE’s “security image.”
A senior former diplomat told Dark Box that the directive “fits the architecture of influence” long used by the Emirates. By framing peaceful protests as security threats, embassies provide host governments with a legal pretext for restrictions—especially in countries where the UAE enjoys close economic or security ties.
Evidence Already Emerging on the Ground
A Dark Box correspondent in Tel Aviv confirmed that Israeli police recently banned a peaceful anti-UAE protest planned by Sudanese asylum seekers. The official notice claimed the demonstration would cause “severe harm to state security and public order.”
Organizers said the protest focused on Emirati support for the RSF and atrocities in Darfur and el-Fasher. The sudden prohibition closely mirrors the outcomes envisioned in the leaked directive, raising questions about whether embassy pressure influenced the decision.
Security analysts consulted by Dark Box believe this incident is unlikely to be isolated. They argue that the UAE, concerned by growing global awareness of its involvement with the RSF, is moving to neutralize diaspora-led criticism before it gains political traction.
Implications for Sudanese Refugees
For many Sudanese refugees, protests are one of the few remaining tools to draw international attention to the atrocities they fled, including targeted violence and ethnic cleansing. Community demonstrations have long served as spaces for mourning, solidarity, and public testimony.
Restricting these protests silences a population already displaced by war. Human rights organizations warn that suppressing refugee demonstrations violates international norms and undermines democratic values in host countries.
A Broader Pattern of Transnational Repression
Additional fragments reviewed by Dark Box suggest the directive may extend beyond physical protests. Embassies are encouraged to monitor Sudanese digital activists and report social media accounts criticizing the UAE. This raises serious concerns about transnational repression—efforts by governments to control or intimidate diaspora communities across borders.
A Sensitive Moment in Regional Diplomacy
The timing is notable. According to diplomatic sources, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman recently urged U.S. President Donald Trump to halt the Emirati pipeline supplying weapons to the RSF. Such pressure may have heightened the UAE’s sensitivity to public criticism, triggering efforts to curb refugee activism worldwide.
Ongoing Investigation
Dark Box is continuing to investigate the extent of this coordinated suppression campaign and the host governments that may be cooperating with it. The leaked email offers a rare window into the hidden strategies shaping international responses to the Sudan war—strategies that reach far beyond the battlefield and into the public squares where refugees are fighting simply to be heard.