Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of State, represented the UAE at the Mediators Planning Retreat on Sudan held in Djibouti on July 25, 2024. The high-level gathering brought together delegations from 32 countries alongside regional and international organizations, all focused on restoring peace to conflict-torn Sudan.
UAE Calls for Immediate Ceasefire and Dialogue
Delivering the opening speech, Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan stressed the critical role of the international community in responding to the deteriorating human rights situation in Sudan. He called for violence to be halted immediately and for humanitarian aid to be delivered without delay.
He urged stronger cooperation between regional states and global actors to identify workable strategies that could help Sudan navigate its ongoing crisis. Central to his address was an unequivocal stance: "there is no military solution to the war." Sheikh Shakhboot called on all parties to embrace dialogue as the primary path toward an enduring resolution.
Worsening Humanitarian Crisis
Sheikh Shakhboot outlined the severity of the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Sudan, warning that an imminent threat of famine is directly endangering civilian lives. He called for an escalation of both diplomatic and humanitarian efforts to address the conflict's impact, particularly on the millions of refugees and internally displaced persons.
UAE's $245 Million Aid Commitment
The minister detailed the UAE's tangible contributions to alleviating the crisis. Since the conflict erupted in April 2023, the UAE has provided USD 245 million in humanitarian aid — both in cash and in kind — to Sudan and neighboring affected countries. In addition, the UAE established two field hospitals in the Republic of Chad to support displaced Sudanese refugees sheltering there.
Support for a Consensual Political Process
Sheikh Shakhboot reaffirmed the UAE's backing for all efforts and initiatives aimed at de-escalating tensions and ending the crisis. He emphasized the need for consensus among Sudanese stakeholders and called for concrete, measurable progress on the political track — the only sustainable route to stability.
He closed by reiterating that an immediate ceasefire is not merely desirable but urgently necessary, and that dialogue remains the only viable tool for bringing the conflict to an amicable end.
