Below is a letter sent on June 5, 2025 by MEDC, Amnesty International, and more than 40 other human rights organizations to Members of Congress urging them to support the Joint Resolution of Disapproval (JRD) on weapons sales to the UAE.
June 5, 2025
Dear Senators,
We, the undersigned organizations, urge you to cosponsor and vote in favor of the S.J.Res.51, S.J.Res.52, and S.J.Res.54, introduced by Senators Van Hollen, Murphy, Schatz, Kaine, and Sanders. We specifically support the resolutions’ stated goal of blocking several major arms sales to the government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in light of extensive evidence of UAE support to the Rapid Support Forces’ (RSF) killing of civilians in Sudan.
Independent investigations by human rights organizations, journalists, and a UN panel have concluded that the United Arab Emirates has provided weapons and other support to the RSF. In January 2025, members of Congress confirmed that the UAE is providing weapons to the RSF despite a pledge to the US government that it would not do so. Then Secretary-designate Rubio subsequently noted that the UAE is “openly supporting” the RSF. Much of that support violates the United Nations Security Council’s Darfur arms embargo in place since 2005. Investigations by leading human rights organizations have additionally concluded that the RSF has engaged in widespread war crimes and other atrocities, including extensive sexual violence. A bipartisan resolution passed last year condemned RSF atrocities.
Civilians in Sudan have endured unimaginable suffering in a war marked by extensive abuses, which have been fueled by flows of weapons into the country. The conduct of the warring parties has also led to a dire humanitarian crisis, with two-thirds of Sudan’s population in need of humanitarian assistance and multiple regions suffering from acute food insecurity or famine. Nearly 13 million people have been forced to leave their homes in Sudan, including 4 million to other countries.
The State Department pushed through these proposed sales, cumulatively worth $1.6 billion, despite a hold from the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
The United States should use its leverage to stem the flow of arms to the devastating conflict in Sudan. We endorse these resolutions and urge all Senators to cosponsor and vote in favor of their passage.
Sincerely,
Act for Sudan
Advocacy Network for Africa, AdNA
Africa Faith and Justice Network
Alliance for Peacebuilding
American Friends Service Committee
Amnesty International USA
Arms Control Association
Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC)
Center for International Policy Advocacy
Church of the Brethren, Office of Peacebuilding and Policy
DAWN
Demand Progress
Education for Global Peace
Emgage Action
Fikra for Studies and Development
Foreign Policy for America
Friends Committee on National Legislation
Genocide Watch
Global Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and United Church of Christ
Human Rights First
Human Rights Watch
Journal of Social Encounters
MADRE
Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns
Middle East Democracy Center (MEDC)
Migrant Roots Media
Minnesota Peace Project
Nonviolence International
NY Coalition for Sudan
Operation Broken Silence
Pax Christi New York State
Peace Action
Peace Catalyst International
Pittsburgh Anti-War Committee
Pittsburgh Darfur Emergency Coalition
Presbyterian Church (USA), Office of Public Witness
Refugees International
Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa (SIHA)
Sudan Human Rights Network (SHRN)
Sudan Transparency and Policy Tracker
Sudan Unlimited
The Sentry
The Sisters of Mercy of the Americas
The United Methodist Church – General Board of Church and Society
The Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy (TIMEP)
United Church of Christ
Win Without War
Women for Weapons Trade Transparency
Women’s International Peace Centre
