UAE and Juba Deny Arms Delivery via Field Hospital in Northern Bahr el-Ghazal

(JUBA) – South Sudan’s government has defended the opening of a new hospital funded by the United Arab Emirates near the Sudanese border, rejecting accusations that the facility is being used to support one side in the ongoing war in Sudan.

Deputy Foreign Minister Akuei Bona Malwal told reporters in Juba on Tuesday that the purpose of the Madhol Field Hospital in Aweil East County is purely humanitarian. He dismissed claims reported in international media suggesting that the hospital is part of a covert military operation.

“The truth is that the field hospital is there to serve the people. It was not meant to support or advance foreign interest against another,” Malwal said.

The Madhol Field Hospital was officially opened on 10 March 2025 in Northern Bahr el-Ghazal State. Built with support from the UAE, it lies just 64 kilometres south of the Sudanese border. According to officials, the 100 bed facility was constructed in just two months, from November to December 2023, and is intended to provide health services for nearly 2.4 million people. This includes both the local population and the thousands of refugees and returnees who have crossed into South Sudan fleeing the civil war in Sudan.

Allegations that the hospital could be used to channel weapons to the Sudanese paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have circulated in regional reports, but both Juba and Abu Dhabi strongly deny the claims. The UAE has previously denied providing military assistance to any of the parties in the Sudanese conflict.

The war in Sudan erupted in April 2023 and continues to cause instability across the region. The fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the RSF has not only displaced millions but also disrupted regional trade and oil exports. South Sudan’s economy, which heavily depends on oil, has been affected because its crude exports are transported through a pipeline running across Sudan to the Red Sea.

The South Sudanese government has tried to maintain a neutral stance in the conflict, while also offering itself as a mediator. President Salva Kiir has hosted meetings involving Sudanese factions in efforts to promote dialogue. However, these efforts, along with other international peace initiatives, have so far failed to produce a ceasefire or lasting agreement.

Malwal underlined that South Sudan’s priority is regional stability.

“War is never the solution. It exacerbates the suffering and prolongs the conflict,” he said. “A stable and peaceful Sudan has positive impacts on our relations.”

Officials in Juba maintain that the UAE-funded hospital is a vital humanitarian asset for both South Sudanese and Sudanese civilians in Northern Bahr el-Ghazal. While the government recognises the sensitivities involved given the proximity to the conflict zone, it insists the hospital should not be politicised.