This comes after an investigation by a UN expert panel Discovery of European made weapons in Rapid Response Force (RSF) supply convoy, as well as a report By Human rights watchdog Amnesty International said the RSF paramilitary force is obtaining European weapons through resale through the United Arab Emirates.
“We will ask the European Commission to stop trade negotiations with the UAE until we see weapons flowing from the UAE to the RSF,” Marit Meij, a Dutch MEP from the socialist group, told DW.
The RSF is accused of committing mass atrocities in Sudan, such as using rape and starvation as weapons of war, particularly during the recent siege of the western city of al-Fashar. The International Criminal Court (ICC) recently launched an investigation to determine whether these acts constitute war crimes.
The Emirati government has repeatedly denied claims that it is sending European weapons to Sudan — which would be a serious violation of the UN arms embargo on Sudan — but did not respond to DW’s request for comment for this article.
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The EU is struggling to extend free trade agreements
As trade with America continues to grow Compounded in the wake of Trump’s tariff agenda, the EU is struggling to expand its bilateral trade network with free trade agreements (FTAs) with third countries around the world.
EU officials initially expected Trade talks with the UAE could be completed by the end of 2025. The agreement will increase market access and reduce tariffs between the EU and the UAE.
MEPs from pro-trade parties warned against stopping the talks altogether, but said the talks should be used as a lever to prevent the re-export of arms to the UAE.
“The leverage we have is in that relationship We is with the UAE,” said Barry Andrews, an Irish MEP, economically the liberal Renew Europe group told DW. “We use trade to supply goods and services across borders, but we also use it as leverage for particular European priorities,” he said.
Voices from the other end of the aisle disagreed.
“Eliminate external supporters of this conflict through targeted sanctions, arms embargoes and sustained diplomatic pressure,” said Merja Kyllonen, a Finnish MEP from the Left group in the European Parliament. “If we fail to confront those who are financing and arming this war, we are only treating the symptoms, not the causes.”
Sudanese government confirms discovery of weapons ‘linked to EU members’
Earlier, in April, the United Nations launched an investigation into the origin of weapons in the Sudan conflict after sources reported the serial numbers of weapons and ammunition seen in RSF photographs and videos published online were traced to European arms manufacturers.
The Sudanese government, which is itself accused of atrocities against civilians, says it can confirm reports of RSF using foreign weapons. “In fact most of what we have seized on the battlefield, whether assault rifles or ammunition, some of them are linked to some EU member states,” Sudan’s ambassador to Brussels and permanent representative to the EU, Abdelbagy Kabir, told the press in late October.
The civil war in Sudan continues as of 2023, primarily between two rival factions – on the one hand, the internationally recognized, government-controlled Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), and on the other, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Their struggle for the upper hand has displaced an estimated 13 million people, according to the United Nations. In May, the US special envoy for Sudan suggested The death toll could reach as high as 150,000 by 2023.
Amnesty International’s investigation also documented arms and ammunition being imported into Sudan from China, Russia, Serbia, Turkey and Yemen.
EU MPs concerned about possible increase in Sudanese migration
European lawmakers are also concerned that the Sudanese civil war will drive refugees to Europe in search of safety, with reports that some are already headed to Libya, where many human smugglers wait in the wings.
“They are in neighboring countries, Uganda, South Sudan and Chad,” said MEP Barry Andrews. “If they feel there is no possibility of reconciliation or conflict resolution in Sudan, they will leave, and they will take all the risks that are involved in crossing the Mediterranean Sea and getting involved with smugglers.”
“When we fail to invest in stability in fragile contexts like Sudan,” Andrews said, “people there will want to flee and try to come to Europe.”
However, Amnesty has warned against creating renewed “migration crisis” rhetoric in Europe.
Eve Geddie, advocacy director of Amnesty’s EU office, said, “Instead of stoking fear about migration, EU leaders should use all their diplomatic powers to pressure all warring parties to end devastating violations against civilians in Sudan.”
MPs are working towards a solution
A proposal for a resolution is moving through the European Parliament’s voting process – currently scheduled for Thursday – and is set to call for a significant increase in EU aid to alleviate the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Sudan.
Not all political factions may agree on calls to end trade negotiations with the UAE, but they are ready to demand increased action to prevent European weapons from falling into the hands of the RSF.
They will also seek to end the international trade of gold and minerals mined in Sudan, the proceeds of which finance militia groups.
European Parliament resolutions are not legally binding, but they increase pressure on EU governments to act.
Edited by: Carla Bleiker, Maren Sass
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