Sudan

Sudan, UAE trade accusations in heated exchange at UN Security Council Meeting

Al-Harith Idriss, Permanent Representative of Republic of Sudan, addresses the Security Council meeting on the situation in the Sudan in New York on January 25, 2023. (Photo: UN)

By Mwangi Maina | Wednesday, June 19, 2024

The Sudanese representative to the United Nations, Al-Harith Idris, reiterated accusations against the United Arab Emirates for supporting the "Rapid Support Forces".

A Security Council session on Tuesday escalated into a heated exchange between Sudanese and Emirati delegates, with both sides trading accusations of fueling the conflict in war-torn Sudan.

The Sudanese representative to the United Nations, Al-Harith Idris, reiterated accusations against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for supporting the "Rapid Support Forces" (RSF). He requested the Security Council President distribute and publish documents his government submitted this week as evidence of Emirati involvement in Sudan.

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Emirati representative Mohamed Abu Shehab countered by calling the statements of the Sudanese diplomat "ludicrous allegations" and portraying Idris as "representing only the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF)," casting doubt on the legitimacy of his government.

Abu Shehab highlighted the humanitarian assistance the UAE has been providing to those affected by the war in Sudan.

"The representative of the SAF should be asked why he doesn't come to the Jeddah talks if he seeks to stop the conflict and the suffering of civilians. And why do they obstruct the flow of aid? What are you waiting for? You must stop exploiting an international platform like the Security Council for bidding and instead stop the conflict you started," he added.

The Sudanese representative retorted to the Emirati representative, saying, "Whoever wants to make peace in Sudan must come with a pure heart." He stressed that the UAE is sponsoring modelled and ethnic terrorism in Sudan, as proven by the report of the panel of experts since December 2023.

"We have gathered all the data, evidence, and photos for you and submitted them to your esteemed Council for discussion, but the UAE, through its actions and evil, obstructed the meeting in its required format so that your Council, as I told you, can take the remaining mile, which is to condemn the UAE for its aggression. The UAE is condemned, and the condemned cannot be a partner in peace," he said.

Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to the UN Mohamed Abu Shehab speaks during a Security Council meeting at United Nations headquarters on June 6, 2023.

The Sudanese ambassador emphasised his government's commitment to achieving peace and noted that the RSF's refusal to implement the Jeddah Humanitarian Agreement of May 2023 had suspended the talks.

Regarding UAE humanitarian assistance, Al-Harith stated that Sudan does not need Emirati aid and urged the UAE to refrain from interfering in its affairs.

The Emirati representative requested to speak again, repeating his accusation that Sudan has exploited the Security Council as a platform "to spread false accusations against the UAE to divert attention from the serious violations happening on the ground."

He added that returning to the negotiating table is the only way to end the conflict.

Sudan had previously requested twice, during April and May, to hold a special session to discuss Emirati support for the RSF, but a permanent member of the Security Council obstructed this effort, according to the Sudanese government.

On Tuesday, the official Sudanese news agency SUNA released a letter requesting action against the UAE for violating UN resolutions (e.g., the arms embargo on Darfur) and bilateral agreements banning the transfer of weapons to a third party.

The 41-page letter included photos of weapons with serial numbers and photocopies of documents, including six Emirati passports Sudan claims were found with the RSF.