Sudan’s foreign ministry has accused the British government of protecting the UAE, which it considers the biggest backer of the war that has raged in the country for more than a year.
Last Saturday, the government announced that it had received the approval of the UN Security Council to hold a special session on the complaint related to the “Emirati aggression” on Sudan.
The session was scheduled for Monday, in the presence of UN Security Council member states and representatives of the Sudan and UAE missions to the UN.
Hours before the meeting, Britain submitted a request to change the format of the session to closed consultations to discuss the situation in Sudan, focusing mainly on the repercussions of the events in North Darfur.
In a statement on what happened in the UN Security Council during the past hours, the Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicated that the Council’s agenda listed the meeting on the subject of “the UAE aggression on Sudan” represented in “the multifaceted sponsorship of the Rapid Support Forces” in light of the speech of Sudan’s Permanent Representative Al-Harith Idris to the President of the UN Security Council on April 26, where he requested an urgent meeting of the Council to discuss the matter.
The Sudanese government condemned what it considered a British intervention to change the format and nature of the session, to become a meeting on the situation in Sudan in general and the city of El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur state in particular.
She said that Britain has appointed itself as a pen bearer in the affairs of Sudan, to change the format and nature of the meeting, pointing to the severe pressure exerted by the UAE on Britain to protect it in the UN Security Council, according to the British newspaper «Sunday Times».
She added: “The pressure exerted by Abu Dhabi came after its role in fueling the war in Sudan was exposed with its continued support for the Rapid Support Forces,” and stated that the UAE canceled four ministerial meetings with Britain to force it to intervene in the face of the complaint filed by Sudan.
The closed-door consultations session was held on Monday, during which members called on the Rapid Support Forces to cease hostilities around the city of El Fasher and pledge not to attack any other city.
The session called on the regional parties to abide by the arms embargo on Darfur under Resolution 1591, and called on the Sudanese parties to resume the Jeddah negotiations, the need to facilitate unhindered humanitarian access, and respect international humanitarian law.
The Sudanese Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday: «Britain denied its moral and political duty as a permanent member of the UN Security Council and condemned the Sudanese government for what it considered a British intervention to change the format and nature of the session, to become a meeting on the situation in Sudan in general and the city of El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur state in particular.
saying that Britain has appointed itself as a pen bearer in the affairs of Sudan, to change the format and nature of the meeting, pointing to the severe pressure exerted by the UAE on Britain to protect it in the UN Security Council, according to the British newspaper «Sunday Times».
It added: “The pressure exerted by Abu Dhabi came after its role in fueling the war in Sudan was exposed with its continued support for the Rapid Support Forces,” and stated that the UAE canceled four ministerial meetings with Britain to force it to intervene in the face of the complaint filed by Sudan.
The closed-door consultations session was held on Monday, during which members called on the Rapid Support Forces to cease hostilities around the city of El Fasher and pledge not to attack any other city.
The session called on the regional parties to abide by the arms embargo on Darfur under Resolution 1591, and called on the Sudanese parties to resume the Jeddah negotiations, and the need to facilitate unhindered humanitarian access, and respect international humanitarian law.
She referred to the continuing effects of the British colonial past in Sudan, describing them as innocuous.
The statement added: “The protection of Britain, which is the largest financier of war in Sudan, coupled with revelations by the British press that it conducted secret meetings with the Rapid Support Forces, makes it a supporter of impunity and a partner in responsibility for the atrocities committed by those forces and the state supporting them.”
He continued: “This shameful step by Britain, and the leniency shown by the permanent Western members of the Council towards the atrocities of the Rapid Support Forces and their sponsor, the UAE, will not discourage Sudan from taking all ways and means to protect its people, sovereignty and dignity.”
She pointed out that the credibility of the Security Council and its ability to play its role in protecting international peace and security and fulfilling the principles and ideals of The Sudanese government accuses the UAE of supporting the Rapid Support Forces in the war raging in Sudan since mid-April last year.
On March 28, the Sudanese government filed a formal complaint at the UN Security Council against Abu Dhabi, accusing it of aggression and interference in the country’s internal affairs.
The complaint states that the UAE demand reparation and compensation for the losses caused by the attack by its Rapid Support Forces, “in accordance with the principles of international law relating to the responsibility of states for internationally wrongful acts.”
It called on the UN Security Council to use all tools at its disposal to “curb the UAE aggression against Sudan in accordance with the provisions of Articles 41 and 42 of the Charter of the United Nations.
Article 41 of the UN Charter gives the Security Council the power to decide on measures that do not require armed force to be implemented. It also allows it to request Member States to apply these measures, which may include the suspension of economic links, rail, sea, air and postal transports. and other means of transportation partially or completely and cut off bilateral relations
If the Security Council deems that the measures provided for in Article 41 are inadequate, Article 42 authorizes it to take such actions as are necessary through the air, sea and land forces to maintain or restore international peace and security.
The Sudanese government demands that the UAE immediately stop recruiting “mercenaries” and cut off military and logistical support, supplies and supplies to the RSF and allied groups.
Al-Quds Al-Arabi/Al-Yurae
