American rapper Macklemore has canceled his upcoming October concert in Dubai, citing the United Arab Emirates’ role in the ongoing genocide and humanitarian crisis in Sudan. His decision shines a spotlight on the UAE’s controversial support for the paramilitary force fighting government troops in the African nation.
The UAE has consistently denied allegations that it has been supplying arms to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and backing its leader, Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo. However, United Nations experts presented “credible” evidence in January suggesting that the Emirates had been sending weapons to the RSF multiple times a week from northern Chad.
Sudan has been in turmoil since mid-April 2023, when long-standing tensions between its military and paramilitary leaders erupted in the capital, Khartoum, spreading to other regions including Darfur. The conflict has claimed over 18,800 lives and displaced more than 10 million people, with hundreds of thousands now facing the threat of famine.
During a heated U.N. Security Council meeting in June, Sudan’s beleaguered government directly accused the UAE of arming the RSF. In response, an Emirati diplomat sharply rebuked his Sudanese counterpart, urging him to stop “grandstanding.” Despite these allegations, the UAE has participated in ongoing peace talks aimed at resolving the conflict.
Neither the Emirati Foreign Ministry nor Dubai’s Media Office provided immediate comments on Macklemore’s decision. Organizers had already announced the concert’s cancellation last week and promised refunds, but no explanation was offered until Macklemore’s statement.
On Instagram, Grammy-winner Macklemore explained that he had been urged by numerous people to cancel the Dubai show in solidarity with the people of Sudan and to boycott the UAE due to its alleged role in the humanitarian crisis. He revealed that his recent public support of Palestinians amid the Israel-Hamas conflict further influenced his decision.
Macklemore, who has started performing a song titled “Hind’s Hall” in memory of a young girl killed in Gaza, acknowledged the potential repercussions of his decision on his future shows in the region. “I know that this will probably jeopardize my future shows in the area, and I truly hate letting any of my fans down,” he wrote. “I was really excited too. But until the UAE stops arming and funding the RSF I will not perform there.”
He also addressed fellow artists scheduled to perform in Dubai, urging them to consider using their platforms to effect collective liberation.
The RSF traces its origins to the Janjaweed fighters under former Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, who ruled for three decades before being ousted in a popular uprising in 2019. Al-Bashir is currently wanted by the International Criminal Court on charges of genocide and other crimes committed in Darfur during the 2000s.
Dubai, known for attractions like the Burj Khalifa and the Emirates airline, has long sought to attract A-list entertainers to its state-of-the-art venues. Nonetheless, performers often grapple with the complexities of performing in the tightly controlled federation of seven sheikhdoms. In May, American comedian Dave Chappelle drew attention in Abu Dhabi when he referred to the Israel-Hamas conflict as a “genocide” and joked about the UAE’s extensive surveillance operations.
Macklemore, born Benjamin Hammond Haggerty in Kent, Washington, shot to fame with his 2014 Grammy-winning hit “Thrift Shop.” His principled stand against performing in Dubai injects fresh urgency into an international dialogue about the UAE’s involvement in Sudan’s devastating conflict.