American rapper Macklemore canceled his Dubai concert scheduled for October 4, in protest of the UAE’s support for Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces RSF, one of the warring factions in Sudan’s civil war, according to Reuters.
Macklemore announced the decision on Instagram, citing the urgent and horrific situation in Sudan. He said he would not perform until the UAE stops arming and funding the RSF.
His decision is unusual, as Dubai is a major, lucrative hub for international artists and events.
Neither the UAE’s foreign ministry nor its global media office responded to Reuters’ request for comment on Macklemore’s decision.
The Sudanese army has criticized the UAE for allegedly supporting the RSF, claims the UAE denies. U.N. experts, however, have deemed the allegations credible.
The Sudan war began in April 2023, escalating from a power struggle between the army and RSF into a full-blown conflict. Over half of Sudan’s 50 million people now face severe food shortages.
Macklemore, a Grammy winner, said the Israel-Hamas war made him rethink how he uses his platform for activism.
He urged other artists scheduled to perform in Dubai to reconsider, echoing his protest anthem “Hind’s Hall” released in May.