This was the first public communication between the two leaders since the Army started publicly criticising the UAE over its alleged support for its rival in the war, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
The UAE denies the allegations although U.N. experts have said they are credible. The allegations surfaced in a fiery back-and-forth at the U.N. Security Council in June.
Emirati state news agency WAM reported on Thursday that in the call UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan “affirmed the UAE’s keenness to support all solutions and initiatives aimed at halting escalation and ending the crisis in Sudan”.
Analysts say that though some in Sudan felt the call was overdue, hawkish Islamists have rejected mediation efforts and are wary of the UAE role.
Early on Friday the Sudanese Army said in a statement that Sudanese Army Chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan told Sheikh Mohammed, known as MbZ, to stop his backing for the RSF, “who kill the Sudanese, destroy their country, and displace them”
Sudanese diplomatic sources said that Burhan and MbZ discussed a proposal by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who visited Sudan recently, to mediate an end to the war over plans for a political transition.
Multiple mediation efforts have failed to bring a halt to the conflict, which has left half the population facing crisis level of hunger and forced about one-fifth from their homes.
There is no accurate data on how many have been killed, but toll estimates run into the tens of thousands.
Analysts and diplomats say the UAE, which has good relations with most of Sudan’s neighbours including the Army’s main backer Egypt, may have to play a role in finding an end to the war.
(With Inputs From Reuters)
