Sinéad Gibney (Dublin Rathdown, Social Democrats)
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36. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the engagement her Department has had with the Emirati Government in relation to their alleged supply of weapons and support to the RSF in South Sudan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [66724/25]

Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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I am concerned about the serious allegations referred to. The engagement of the United Arab Emirates in Sudan has been discussed bilaterally with the UAE at Ministerial and official level. The UAE has consistently denied the allegations. We will continue to engage with the UAE on all aspects of the situation in Sudan.

The UAE, alongside the US, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, is a member of the “Quad”, a group formed with the aim of resolving the conflict. I encourage the UAE and all others with influence to advocate for a peaceful resolution to the conflict and an end to the suffering of civilians.

There also needs to be substantive political engagement and coordination between the EU, the AU, the Quad and other international and national actors on de-escalation and mediation efforts.

Together with our EU partners, Ireland has been very clear that external engagement in the conflict must end. At the May 2025 meeting of the EU-Gulf Cooperation Council Political Committee, Ireland, speaking on behalf of the EU, stressed the need to use every influence to prevent external actors from providing arms to combatants and to unite in favour of peace. In a November statement by the High Representative, the EU reiterated the messages set out clearly in the Conclusions of the October Foreign Affairs Council on Sudan. The EU calls on all external actors to take the necessary measures to end the sale or supply of arms and related material to all parties, in accordance with the UN arms embargo. The EU will continue to advocate for the expansion of the arms embargo to the whole territory of Sudan.

Specific allegations of violations of the UN embargo and EU sanctions are pursued through UN and EU channels. Ireland continues to call on all parties to comply fully with their obligations and to refrain from any actions that prolong the conflict and fuel further violence.