Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has launched a powerful demand for the British government to impose immediate sanctions on the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain for their backing of Sudan's notorious Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
The senior Labour MP's intervention comes amid mounting evidence of widespread atrocities committed by the RSF paramilitary group in Sudan's devastating civil war.
Evidence of Systematic Violence
In a letter seen by The Independent, Cooper presented damning intelligence linking the Gulf states to the RSF's campaign of violence. "There is extensive and credible evidence that the UAE and Bahrain have been providing direct military support to the RSF," she stated.
The RSF, which evolved from the Janjaweed militias notorious for atrocities in Darfur, stands accused of ethnic cleansing, sexual violence, and mass killings against civilian populations.
Call for Immediate Sanctions
Cooper's demands include:
- Targeted sanctions against individuals and entities in UAE and Bahrain supporting the RSF
- Immediate suspension of military exports to both nations
- International pressure through UN channels to halt the flow of weapons
- Support for independent investigations into war crimes
"The UK cannot stand by while Gulf states fuel a conflict that has created one of the world's worst humanitarian crises," Cooper emphasised.
Growing Humanitarian Catastrophe
The conflict between the RSF and Sudanese armed forces has displaced over 8 million people and pushed millions to the brink of famine. Recent reports from human rights organisations document systematic rape, ethnic targeting, and the destruction of entire communities.
Cooper's intervention signals a significant escalation in political pressure on the Conservative government to take concrete action against the Gulf backers of the RSF.
