A large-scale online network linked to the UAE has used stolen images of Somali women and influencers to spread fake content favoring the country and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan, according to an investigation published by the BBC.
The investigation, published on October 21, revealed that over 100 fake accounts on X, Facebook, and TikTok — many posing as Somali Muslim women and lifestyle influencers — to target audiences across Africa, particularly the East African region.
The investigation’s data analysis revealed that from January 2023 to September 2025, these accounts produced over 47,000 posts, reaching an audience exceeding 215 million users. Using a mix of real and AI-generated images, the accounts posted coordinated multilingual content portraying the UAE as a benevolent influence in Somalia, while attacking the Sudanese Armed Forces and defending the RSF.
Exploiting Images of Somali Women to Disseminate Political Propaganda
Several women told the BBC that their photos were used without consent. “This character is not me. My images are being used, and I can't do anything to those who are impersonating me,” one influencer said.
By using reverse image search technology, the BBC identified some of the real individuals featured in the images, discovering that they were famous influential models.
A former beauty pageant winner was alerted that a Facebook account using her photo had been posting content supporting the Somali government and its military. She stated that she does not have a Facebook account and has no affiliation with the profile using her image.
Four additional women confirmed that their photos were used without their permission. One mother explained that her daughter did not have an X account and was unaware that her images were being misused. She added that her daughter had no connection to the network and no interest in politics.
Social Media As A Tool for Political and Military Mobilization
Social media have become an essential tool for political and military mobilization in Sudan, serving as both a strategic communication channel and a recruitment platform.
At first glance, the fake accounts appeared to focus mainly on praising Somalia — and its government — with around 40 percent of the posts directly referencing the country and the UAE support. The accounts posted photos of food donations provided by the UAE, accompanied by comments such as "UAE supports Somalia."
Meanwhile, the fake accounts shared posts alleging that the Sudanese army carried out a massacre in the city of Al-Obeid. However, major international media outlets and Sudan’s Beam Reports found no verified evidence that such an incident occurred. The fabricated stories appeared in August, shortly after Sudanese media reported that the Air Force had destroyed a UAE aircraft carrying foreign mercenaries.
The BBC investigation found that the network was designed to manipulate online discourse and obscure the UAE’s involvement in backing the RSF, which has been accused of committing atrocities in Sudan.
UAE Complicit in Sudan War
Last May, Sudan severed diplomatic relations with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) after repeatedly accusing the Gulf state of supporting the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in its ongoing civil war. Sudan’s Defence Minister, Yassin Ibrahim, accused the UAE of breaching Sudan’s sovereignty by acting through its “proxy,” the RSF.
Moreover, Sudan accused the United Arab Emirates at the United Nations’ top court of violating the Genocide Convention by supporting paramilitary forces in its Darfur region. “A genocide is being committed against the ethnic group of the Masalit in the west of our country,” Sudan’s acting Justice Minister, Muawia Osman, told the International Court of Justice (ICJ) last April. He claimed that the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces were committing genocide “with the support and complicity of the United Arab Emirates,” allegations that the UAE has consistently denied.
The UAE once again rejected Sudan’s allegations, describing them as “baseless and politically driven.” It emphasized that it “supports neither side” in Sudan’s civil war and that Sudan’s claims lack any supporting evidence.
The International Court of Justice dismissed Sudan’s lawsuit accusing the UAE of complicity in genocide last May, ruling that it lacked jurisdiction since the Middle Eastern nation is exempt from Article 9 of the Genocide Convention. UAE official Reem Ketait praised the decision, describing it as “clear and decisive.”
Abu Dhabi has long rejected accusations – stemming from sources including the United Nations, United States, and NGOs – that it is arming the RSF.
Amnesty stated last May that it had verified footage showing RSF fighters employing Chinese-made GB50A guided bombs and 155mm AH-4 howitzers in attacks carried out in Khartoum and Darfur. According to the rights group, the UAE was the only known buyer of the howitzers from China, citing data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. The UAE dismissed the conclusion, saying the weapon system “has been available on the international market for nearly a decade” and was not exclusive to the UAE, and described the report as “misleading.”
Impacts of War Propaganda and Disinformation Campaigns
The war in Sudan is influenced not only by domestic actors but also by international players who exploit social media to shape narratives, advance strategic interests, and sway public opinion. Foreign governments, intelligence agencies, international organizations, and advocacy groups actively engage in Sudan’s digital sphere, using online platforms to steer perceptions and policy responses. Their involvement ranges from diplomatic outreach and humanitarian messaging to covert influence operations and disinformation campaigns.
Disinformation networks utilized by the RSF ran rampant on X to promote its agenda, targeting audiences both within Sudan and abroad. Before its accounts were suspended, the group frequently posted daily statements and videos touting supposed battlefield victories, attempting to portray itself as a pro-democracy movement, and obscuring its role in atrocities and human rights abuses.
Reports indicate that the RSF has enlisted the services of several international communications and public relations firms—including Dickens & Madson in Canada, Think Doctor in France, and Zero Gravity in the UAE—to help enhance its image and disseminate disinformation.
Sudan has also experienced instances of digital interference, with international actors exploiting social media to promote competing agendas. Authorities have arrested foreigners from various Arab and Western countries accused of operating propaganda hubs, while rival foreign powers are believed to fund opposing factions and shape online discourse. In its complaint to the U.N. Security Council, Sudan reported that thousands of fake accounts promoting the RSF’s narrative are based in the UAE.
The Role of Digital Interference in Sudan War
An associate professor of media analytics at Northwestern University in Qatar, Marc Owen Jones described the fake accounts pushing pro-UAE propaganda as “electronic puppets” forming part of a broader propaganda network advancing UAE foreign policy in Africa. The “electronic puppets” refer to fake social media accounts designed to push specific viewpoints or manipulate public opinion while hiding the true identities of those controlling them.
He told the BBC that, while it is challenging to identify the organization running the campaign, the accounts appear to belong to a Somalia-focused branch of a broader network aligned with the UAE.
Jones noted that the accounts express a favorable stance toward the UAE. “There is a clear overlap in political and economic agendas, and the narratives being promoted align closely with the UAE’s interests in this country,” he added.
Senior Analyst Alessandro Accorsi added that such operations are often managed by private public relations firms contracted by political actors.
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