Sudan Requests Emergency UN Security Council Meeting Over Alleged UAE Aggression
The ongoing conflict in Sudan has taken a new turn as the country has requested an emergency UN Security Council meeting to address what it calls UAE “aggression.” The dispute stems from allegations that the United Arab Emirates has been supporting paramilitaries in their battle against the Sudanese army. The fighting, which began in April last year, pits the regular army, led by Sudan’s de facto leader Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) headed by his former deputy Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo.
Accusations have been flying back and forth for months, with the regular army claiming that the UAE is providing support to the RSF, a charge that the UAE vehemently denies. In response to these allegations, Sudan’s UN representative, Al-Harith Idriss, submitted a request for an urgent session of the Security Council to address what he described as the UAE’s aggression against the Sudanese people. According to SUNA news agency, Idriss stated that the UAE’s support for the RSF makes them complicit in the militia’s crimes.
In a letter to the Security Council, the UAE foreign ministry refuted Sudan’s accusations, calling them “spurious” and lacking credible evidence. The escalating tensions have also spilled over into Sudan’s North Darfur region, where the UN Security Council has expressed deep concern over the possibility of an imminent offensive by the RSF and allied militias on El Fasher, the last Darfur state capital not under RSF control.
The potential attack on El Fasher has raised alarm bells among United Nations officials, with High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk expressing grave concern over the situation. The Secretary-General’s spokesperson’s office warned that an assault on El Fasher could have devastating consequences for the civilian population, particularly in an area already on the brink of famine.
The conflict in Sudan has already taken a heavy toll, with tens of thousands of people killed and over 8.5 million displaced from their homes. The United Nations has labeled it as the largest displacement crisis in the world. In December, Khartoum expelled 15 Emirati diplomats after an army commander accused Abu Dhabi of supporting the RSF. Protests in Port Sudan also demanded the expulsion of the UAE ambassador.
The situation was further exacerbated when reports surfaced that weapons were found in a UAE cargo plane transporting humanitarian aid to Sudanese refugees in Chad. The Wall Street Journal, citing Ugandan officials, reported on this incident last August, prompting a swift denial from Abu Dhabi.
As tensions continue to escalate in Sudan, the international community is closely monitoring the situation. The emergency UN Security Council meeting requested by Sudan will provide a platform for all parties involved to address their grievances and work towards a peaceful resolution to the conflict. The world is watching closely as events unfold in this troubled region, hoping for a swift and peaceful resolution to the crisis.