The British government has come under scrutiny for approving weapons exports to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) despite evidence suggesting that UK-manufactured military equipment was diverted to Sudanese paramilitaries accused of genocide. Reports from last month revealed that British-made small-arms target systems and armored vehicle engines were found in the hands of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a militia group implicated in widespread atrocities in Sudan. Middle East Eye (MEE) had previously exposed the UAE’s extensive logistical and military support to the RSF. In March, the UN Security Council, of which the UK is a member, received allegations that the UAE supplied British-made arms to the RSF. Despite this, the UK continued to authorize military exports to the UAE. Official data released last week shows that Britain licensed £172 million ($225 million) in military equipment exports to the UAE between April and June 2024, including £1.9 million in military vehicles and components. Emily Apple of the Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) condemned the exports, stating that the UK government is prioritizing arms dealers’ profits over accountability, despite clear evidence of war crimes in Gaza and Sudan. The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) compiled dossiers presented to the UN Security Council, containing images of British-made small-arms target devices recovered from RSF sites in Khartoum and Omdurman. These devices were reportedly manufactured by Militec, a Welsh-based company that has received numerous export licenses since 2013. Political parties and MPs across the UK have called for a suspension of arms sales to the UAE, citing international legal obligations. The RSF’s recent seizure of el-Fasher in Darfur has further highlighted the group’s brutal tactics, with reports of widespread civilian killings, sexual violence, and expulsions. The conflict in Sudan, which began in 2023, has seen the RSF accused of war crimes and genocide by international bodies and human rights groups.