BERLIN – As German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and President Frank-Walter Steinmeier prepare to host United Arab Emirates (UAE) President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Berlin on September 10, 2026, the German government finds itself under intense scrutiny. Human Rights Watch (HRW) has issued a stinging public appeal, demanding that German leadership pivot from economic pragmatism to moral accountability, urging them to challenge the UAE’s documented role in fueling the catastrophic civil war in Sudan and its systemic suppression of domestic dissent.
The state visit, which was slated to include the signing of landmark investment partnerships and discussions between Emirati officials and major German defense contractors, has become a lightning rod for human rights advocates who argue that Germany’s diplomatic silence is effectively subsidizing international instability.
The Core Conflict: A Policy of Silence
Philipp Frisch, HRW’s Germany director, characterized the German government’s reluctance to address the UAE’s role in the Sudanese conflict as "deeply troubling." The critique carries significant weight given Germany’s proactive role in establishing the UN Fact-Finding Mission on Sudan in 2023 and its leadership in hosting a high-level international conference in Berlin this past April aimed at addressing the humanitarian crisis.
According to HRW, by prioritizing trade and security agreements over the enforcement of human rights standards, Berlin is granting the UAE "a free pass for future abuses." The organization argues that a failure to leverage this high-level meeting for a firm condemnation of the UAE’s actions undermines Germany’s own credibility as a global human rights advocate.
Chronology: From Regional Instability to International Outcry
The tensions surrounding the UAE’s foreign policy and its domestic record have been escalating for years. Below is a timeline of the pivotal events leading to the current diplomatic standoff:
- 2017: Prominent Emirati human rights defender Ahmed Mansoor is detained, marking the beginning of a prolonged crackdown on political activists.
- 2023: Germany helps spearhead the establishment of the UN Fact-Finding Mission on Sudan to investigate the deteriorating security situation.
- March 2025: An Emirati court upholds the convictions of 53 human rights defenders and political dissidents in a mass trial described by observers as profoundly unfair.
- May 5, 2025: The International Court of Justice (ICJ) dismisses a case filed by Sudan alleging UAE complicity in the Darfur genocide, citing a jurisdictional reservation regarding the Genocide Convention.
- June 26, 2025: The UAE judiciary sentences 24 additional defendants to life imprisonment.
- October 2025: Colombian private military contractors—allegedly trained in the UAE—are documented on the ground in El Fasher during the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) capture of the city.
- November 2025: The death of political prisoner Ali Abdullah Fath Ali al-Khaja in UAE custody sparks international condemnation.
- February 2026: UN investigators release a report noting that the atrocities in El Fasher bear the "hallmarks of genocide."
- September 1, 2026: A new UN Fact-Finding Mission report formally links entities operating from the UAE to the recruitment and deployment of military contractors and weaponry to the RSF.
Supporting Data: The Evidence of UAE Involvement
The impetus for HRW’s current demand is rooted in a robust body of evidence. The September 1, 2026, UN report provides a damning assessment, concluding that individuals and entities linked to the UAE have played a critical role in the logistics of the Sudanese war. This includes the financing, transport, and deployment of foreign military contractors who have provided tactical support to the RSF.
The Global Security Services Group Link
HRW’s own extensive investigation from May 2026 provides granular detail on how these operations function. The organization identified an Abu Dhabi-based security firm, Global Security Services Group, which has been active in recruiting hundreds of Colombian private military contractors.
These contractors were not merely peripheral; investigations confirm their presence in North Darfur during the brutal October 2025 offensive. The resulting humanitarian toll was staggering, with UN documentation revealing a pattern of systemic killings, rape, and gang rape—crimes that meet the threshold of war crimes and potential crimes against humanity. While the UAE has consistently denied providing military support to the RSF, the proximity of these entities to Emirati soil and financial infrastructure remains a primary concern for international investigators.
Domestic Repression: The "Other" Human Rights Crisis
While the international community focuses on the Sudan conflict, HRW emphasizes that the UAE’s domestic human rights record is equally dire. The country utilizes its Federal Penal Code and strict Cybercrime Law as instruments to criminalize peaceful dissent.
The mass trials of 2025 remain a dark chapter in the nation’s legal history. By upholding 15-year sentences for individuals like Ahmed Mansoor, and imposing life sentences on dozens of others, the Emirati government has effectively silenced the country’s independent civil society. The death of Ali Abdullah Fath Ali al-Khaja while in custody serves as a grim reminder of the risks faced by those who attempt to advocate for democratic reforms within the Emirates. HRW contends that a Germany committed to human rights cannot in good conscience ignore these domestic abuses while entertaining the leadership responsible for them.
Official Responses and Diplomatic Implications
The HRW Demand
HRW has called for a multi-pronged response from Berlin and the broader European Union:
- Targeted Sanctions: Germany and EU partners must investigate Global Security Services Group and its CEO, Mohamed Hamdan al-Zaabi, with the intent of imposing immediate, targeted sanctions.
- Arms Embargo: The EU should move toward an official arms embargo against the UAE to prevent the further flow of resources into the Sudanese conflict zone.
- Public Denunciation: German leadership must publicly denounce the UAE’s assistance to the RSF and address the ongoing detention of political prisoners during the September 10 summit.
The ICJ Barrier
The legal path to accountability remains obstructed. The ICJ’s 2025 decision to strike the Sudanese case from its list—due to a technical reservation by the UAE regarding the Genocide Convention—means that a judicial route to holding the UAE accountable for its role in the conflict is currently closed. This makes diplomatic pressure from states like Germany, which maintains strong bilateral ties with the UAE, the most viable remaining mechanism for influence.
Conclusion: A Test for German Foreign Policy
As the September 10 visit approaches, the German government faces a definitive test of its "values-based" foreign policy. For Chancellor Merz and President Steinmeier, the choice is between the short-term gains of a strategic investment partnership and the long-term imperative of upholding international law and human rights.
The presence of German arms manufacturers at the negotiating table adds a layer of moral urgency. If Germany continues to facilitate military-industrial cooperation with a state accused of facilitating genocide in Sudan, it risks not only its international reputation but also its standing as a champion of the rules-based global order. The HRW appeal serves as a final, urgent reminder that silence is a choice—and in the context of the Sudanese catastrophe, it is a choice with devastating human consequences.
