Biden, Harris meet UAE leader Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed on Sudan, Middle East

President Biden and UAE leader discuss Middle East conflicts and Sudan, despite UAE's role in Sudan conflict.

U.S. President Joe Biden met UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Monday (September 23, 2024) for talks on conflicts in the Middle East and Sudan — despite concerns over the Gulf power’s own role in the Sudan conflict.

Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris also met the Emirati leader at the White House, the first ever visit in Washington by a president of the oil-rich monarchy.

In a joint statement after their meeting, Mr. Biden and Sheikh Mohamed said they “shared concern about the risk of imminent atrocities” as fighting continues in Sudan’s war-torn Darfur region.

The two leaders also called for an “immediate” ceasefire in the brutal civil war between Sudan’s army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), and a return to the political process.

But their statement made no reference to the fact that Sudan has repeatedly accused the UAE itself of backing the RSF, which the United States accuses of carrying out crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing in Darfur.

Instead the statement said that “all parties to the conflict (in Sudan) must comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law.”

Their meeting came before the UN General Assembly in New York was due to debate the 17-month conflict this week, especially the fighting in the devastated city of El-Fasher.