Christian persecution watchdog questions country's inclusion in Trump’s Board of Peace

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Published January 26, 2026

A Christian persecution watchdog has objected to the United Arab Emirates’ inclusion in President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace, citing the Gulf nation’s alleged military role in Sudan’s ongoing civil war. The group has warned that the board’s formation risks weakening international law and accountability frameworks.

The United Kingdom-based Christian Solidarity Worldwide said in a statement that the UAE’s representative, Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, should not be part of a body intended for international peacebuilding because of his country’s alleged support for the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a militia accused of war crimes in Sudan.

The RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces have been fighting since April 2023, with both sides accused of committing severe human rights abuses. The conflict has caused at least 150,000 deaths, displaced over 13 million people, and left 30 million in need of aid, according to international estimates.

Al Mubarak, who chairs Manchester City Football Club and several other football franchises, serves on multiple high-level UAE government bodies, including the Abu Dhabi Executive Council and the Supreme Council for Financial and Economic Affairs. His role on the board comes amid public campaigns in the United Kingdom targeting UAE-linked club ownership.

CSW launched a petition earlier this month urging the English Premier League to investigate the involvement of Manchester City’s ownership in alleged international abuses. The petition, which focuses on UAE vice-president Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, received more than 1,000 signatures in its first week.



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