DID Press: British media revealed a complex network through which the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is reportedly supplying weapons and equipment to Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) via a hidden base in Somalia.
The investigative report by Middle East Eye indicate that the UAE has established a covert air and logistics base in Bosaso, a port city in Puntland, Somalia, to provide military support to Sudanese paramilitary forces.
According to flight tracking data, satellite imagery, and testimonies from local sources and regional diplomats, unusual air traffic has been recorded at Bosaso Airport in recent months. Aircraft originating from the UAE have been transporting unidentified cargo to this base.
“UAE planes regularly land at Bosaso Airport. Their cargo is immediately transferred to another plane prepared for delivery to Sudan and the Rapid Support Forces,” A senior commander of the Puntland Maritime Police Force (PMPF) told the media.
These shipments reportedly continue amid the RSF’s recent capture of El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, after more than 500 days of siege, during which the forces allegedly committed mass civilian killings and executions in hospitals.
Middle East Eye noted that flight operations are timed for low-traffic hours with minimal ground time. Flight data indicates a significant increase in UAE activity at Bosaso in recent months.
A senior official at Bosaso port also revealed that over the past two years, the UAE has transported thousands of containers labeled as “hazardous” through the port without official documentation of origin or destination.
The official added that the operation is heavily secured: “As soon as a ship docks, PMPF forces surround the port to prevent filming or unauthorized access. The cargo is quickly transported to the airport and loaded onto aircraft.”
The report highlights UAE’s covert involvement in Sudan’s ongoing conflicts, which experts say has contributed to prolonging the country’s civil war.