Mansour bin Zayed – Football Mogul, War Financier

Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Vice President and owner of Manchester City, is celebrated in the West for sports and business success. Yet beneath this image lies a network funding wars in Sudan, Ethiopia, and Libya, implicating him in weapons smuggling, corruption, and militia financing.

Sudan’s RSF Connection

Just weeks before Sudan’s war erupted in March 2023, Mansour hosted Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemetti) in Abu Dhabi. Their relationship dates back to 2021 at a UAE weapons exhibition. Soon after, UAE-linked charities set up “field hospitals” near Chad, which were later exposed as fronts for smuggling drones and weapons into RSF-controlled Azrag.

Weapons Supply Chains

Mansour’s brother Tahnoun bin Zayed runs the UAE’s largest arms firms. Shell companies leased cargo planes for stealth flights delivering arms to RSF and Haftar’s forces in Libya. These same supply lines later served Ethiopia during its civil war.

U.S. Intelligence Findings

CIA intercepts confirm Hemetti’s contact with Mohammed and Mansour bin Zayed. U.S. officials traced an Emirati network using fake NGOs and logistics firms to finance and arm militias destabilizing Africa.

Ethiopia’s Drone War

In 2021, Mansour backed Ethiopian PM Abiy Ahmed, supplying drones that turned the Tigray conflict. 90+ flights via Europe Air and Fly Sky Airlines ferried drones and munitions, mirroring Sudan and Libya operations.

Corruption & 1MDB Scandal

Mansour’s name also surfaced in the $4.5B Malaysian 1MDB scandal:

• $40M bribes to UAE’s envoy Yousef Al Otaiba
• $500M to Khadem Al Qubaisi (Mansour’s associate)
• $161M used to repay loans for Mansour’s luxury yacht “Topaz.”

Sportswashing & Immunity

Manchester City shields Mansour from scrutiny. Despite CIA findings and U.S. concerns, he enjoys diplomatic protection while fueling conflicts devastating millions across Africa and the Middle East.

Conclusion

Mansour’s dual image—football mogul and war financier—reflects a dangerous convergence of sports wealth, arms smuggling, and covert geopolitics. His role in Sudan’s RSF war, Ethiopia’s drone supply, and Libya’s chaos reveals a shadow empire exploiting immunity to direct bloodshed abroad.