Barran Press
The Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday, June 21, 2024, denied issuing any apology to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) regarding previous statements made by the Sudanese ambassador to the United Nations, accusing the UAE of supporting the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the ongoing war in Sudan.
In a statement, the ministry refuted claims circulating on some websites and social media platforms about the Sudanese ambassador to Abu Dhabi apologizing to UAE authorities for the speech delivered by Sudan's UN representative, Harith Idris. The statement, according to the Sudan News Agency (SUNA), declared these claims "completely false."
The statement described the circulating information as "false and of unknown origin," stating that it alleged the Sudanese ambassador in Abu Dhabi had apologized for the speech delivered by Sudan's permanent representative to the UN at a Security Council meeting days prior.
The ministry asserted that the speech delivered by Ambassador Idris at the meeting represented Sudan's official stance on the issues discussed by the Security Council.
On Tuesday, June 19, Sudan's UN ambassador, Harith Idris, held the UAE responsible for the ongoing war in his country, an accusation swiftly denied by the UAE's representative.
During a regular Security Council session on the situation in Sudan, Ambassador Idris stated, "Numerous attacks are being carried out by the Rapid Support militia using Emirati weapons, deliberately and systematically targeting villages and towns."
He urged the UAE to "distance itself from Sudan," highlighting it as a crucial step towards establishing stability in the country and considering UAE support for the RSF as the "main reason for the continuation of the war."
Idris called upon the Security Council to "take the remaining mile" by condemning the UAE.
In response, the UAE's ambassador, Mohammed Issa Hamad Bushahab, refuted the accusations, calling them "absurd" and repeatedly referring to the Sudanese ambassador as a "representative of the Sudanese armed forces."
He stated, "We see this as a flawed violation by one of the warring parties in Sudan of this council, exploiting this platform to spread false accusations against the UAE to divert attention from the serious violations occurring on the ground," according to the UN website.
The two ambassadors were seated next to each other during the Security Council meeting.
In a resolution adopted last week, the Security Council called for an end to the "siege" imposed by the RSF on the city of El Fasher in Darfur.
The resolution also urged all member states to refrain from any "external interference" and to respect the arms embargo, without specifically mentioning any country.
Since April 2023, Sudan has been engulfed in a war between the army led by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the RSF led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti) over a dispute regarding the transition to civilian rule.
The war has resulted in the deaths and injuries of tens of thousands and displaced millions. The UN estimates that nearly 25 million people, roughly half of Sudan's population, require assistance, with famine looming.