The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has come under intense international scrutiny following the detention of Nader Maryoud, a prominent Sudanese civil society activist and spokesperson for the pro-democracy Resistance Committees movement in Omdurman. Maryoud was arrested by Emirati authorities two weeks ago without explanation, according to his brother Nizar Maryoud, who described the detention as arbitrary. The arrest occurred shortly after the Salha Resistance Committee issued a statement criticizing the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group backed by the UAE that has been engaged in a brutal conflict with the Sudanese military since April 2023. The RSF, which has been accused of widespread atrocities including killings, lootings, and sexual violence, was previously in control of the Salha neighborhood until the Sudanese military ousted them in May. Residents have recounted harrowing tales of terror during RSF rule, including the massacre of at least 31 members of the Jame’at tribe. The UAE’s alleged supply of advanced weaponry to the RSF has drawn condemnation from human rights groups and prompted calls for international action. The United Nations Human Rights Council has opened an independent investigation into the atrocities, while the United States and other nations are pressuring the UAE to cease its support for the RSF. Amid growing concerns, activists are calling for the immediate release of Nader Maryoud and other detainees held in UAE prisons, warning against mistreatment during their incarceration.