Saudi Arabia and UAE pledge $3 billion in aid to Sudan

Saudi Arabia and the UAE pledged $3 billion in aid to Sudan on Sunday, as a military council takes command despite ongoing anti-regime protests.

The Gulf states promised to inject $500 million in the Sudanese central bank and $2.5 billion to help provide food, medicine and petroleum products, the official Saudi Press Agency said on Sunday.

It did not specify if the money is a gift or a loan but both countries have previously stated they would provide support for the military council, which has taken control of the country after long-time dictator Omar al-Bashir was overthrown.

Saudi Arabia and the UAE said last week it would support Sudan's transitional military council, which will be headed by Lieutenant General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan Abdelrahman when General Awad Ibn Auf stepped down on 12 April after just one day in power. 

"The UAE reaffirms its support for the steps taken by Sudan's transitional military council to protect people and property, wishing these steps would ensure security and stability for the sisterly country," the foreign ministry said in a statement late 13 April.

Abu Dhabi also pledged an "unspecified" aid package to the African country, which will include "petroleum products, wheat and medicine", according to Emirati media.

Saudi Arabia also made a similar pledge on the same day.

Saudi Arabia and the UAE have supported a long list of reactionary regimes since the 2011 pro-democracy Arab Spring, including rebel general Khalifa Haftar in Libya and autocrat President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in Egypt.