Greater Manchester Mayoral Candidates Urged to Condemn UAE’s Human Rights Record

Human Rights Watch and FairSquare have issued a joint letter urging candidates in the Greater Manchester mayoral by-election to publicly commit to pressing the Emirati government over its human rights record and its alleged military backing of abusive forces in Sudan. The July 24, 2026, appeal targets candidates Bev Craig, Geraldine Coggins, Phil Eckersley, and Richard Kilpatrick, pressing them to scrutinize the UAE’s extensive financial and commercial ties to the region, including stakes in the Manchester Life Development Company and local development ventures.

Financial Entanglements and Reputational Cover in Manchester

The joint letter highlights that Manchester City Council maintains a close financial relationship with senior figures in the Emirati government. This partnership is anchored notably through a stake in the Manchester Life Development Company, a joint venture ultimately controlled by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who serves as the vice president and deputy prime minister of the UAE. According to Joey Shea, senior Saudi Arabia and UAE researcher at Human Rights Watch, these commercial ties have provided the Emirati government with valuable reputational cover while its foreign policy actions face intense international scrutiny.

“Manchester City Council’s ties to Emirati officials have given the UAE’s government valuable reputational cover while it backs forces committing atrocities in Sudan,” Shea stated, adding that mayoral candidates should break their silence despite the significant capital flowing through the city.

This dynamic mirrors longstanding local political friction regarding foreign investments. Back in 2016, Human Rights Watch urged then-senior Manchester City Council figure Sir Richard Leese to co-sign a letter demanding the release of political prisoners and independent investigations into torture allegations in the UAE. Leese declined the request, characterizing the Emirati government as “exemplary business partners” while asserting that the alleged abuses fell outside the council’s jurisdiction. Subsequent analysis by FairSquare in 2023 demonstrated that local political leaders in Manchester have historically offered minimal criticism of the Gulf state, even as municipal entities engaged in multi-million-pound commercial projects linked directly to the Emirati government.

Escalating Scrutiny Over Sudan Conflict and Foreign Mercenaries

The push for municipal accountability arrives on the heels of a May 2026 Human Rights Watch report detailing extensive evidence of Emirati military support for the Rapid Support Forces in Sudan. The RSF has been engaged in a brutal war for control of the country against the Sudan Armed Forces, leaving a trail of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and a targeted campaign of ethnic cleansing in the Darfur region.

Investigators documented that Colombian private military contractors passed through Emirati military bases before deploying to Sudan to bolster RSF operations. Human Rights Watch researchers identified these foreign fighters at the scene of severe atrocities during the October 2025 takeover of North Darfur’s capital, El Fasher, following an 18-month siege. Eyewitness accounts and documentation confirmed that foreign mercenaries stood by while RSF units massacred civilians—including individuals with disabilities—and abducted numerous residents for ransom.

International regulatory bodies have begun taking direct punitive action against individuals facilitating these proxy networks. In February 2026, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office added three Colombian nationals to the UK Sanctions List for enlisting mercenaries from Colombia to fight alongside the RSF in El Fasher and other contested areas.

Navigating the complex compliance landscapes of international investments and sanctions requires rigorous investigative frameworks. Corporate entities and municipal boards frequently rely on specialized corporate compliance advisory and international trade law firm networks to vet foreign capital inflows and ensure alignment with global anti-money laundering and human rights standards.

Demands for Mayoral Action and Human Rights Due Diligence

The joint appeal from Human Rights Watch and FairSquare challenges the prospective mayoral leadership to implement concrete policy shifts if elected. Specifically, the organizations want candidates to pledge direct engagement with Emirati representatives, demand an immediate halt to UAE support for the RSF, and conduct comprehensive human rights due diligence on all UAE-linked investments flowing into the Greater Manchester region.

“Manchester’s next mayor should be willing to stand up to the UAE given its domestic repression and support for the abusive RSF in Sudan,” said Alex Carlen, research and advocacy manager at FairSquare. “Given local government’s long-standing and extensive ties to the Emirati government, voters need reassurance that investment from the UAE is not being used to deflect from its record as a human rights violator.”

Beyond fiscal audits, the campaign calls on local leaders to meet proactively with Emirati human rights defenders and openly address the UAE’s domestic crackdown on political dissent. As international oversight tightens around transnational sports ownership and municipal partnerships, regional authorities face mounting pressure to balance economic development with ethical governance. Organizations requiring specialized oversight or independent auditing turn to trusted civic governance consultancy services to evaluate foreign partnerships and protect democratic accountability at the local level.

Voters must decide whether their municipal leadership will continue prioritizing opaque foreign capital over global accountability, or establish a transparent precedent for ethical engagement that other UK cities can follow.