Earlier this week at an EU Commission press briefing, journalists asked the EU whether it would condemn the Rapid Support Forces for attacking a humanitarian aid convoy. The EU Commission officials refused to condemn the RSF forthe attack, and instead condemned all acts of violence against humanitarian workers. EU officials also failed to explain why the Rapid Support Forces is still not listed as a terrorist organisation and added that the EU was working with the United Arab Emirates, the main financier and backer of the RSF, to reach a sustainable ceasefire solution in Sudan.
The EU’s position on Sudan is appeasing the UAE and raises suspicions of backroom lobbying and corruption.
The Sudanese General Fattah al-Burhan says that there won’t be peace in Sudan before the RSF are eliminated: he is empirically correct. Irrespective what you think about Burhan’s and his government the Sudanese state can not co-exist with a genocidal terrorist militia that it conducting genocide on massive scale and re-drawing the map of Sudan: no state would. Europe’s position on the RSF flies in direct contradiction to its position on Syria when ISIS formed its caliphate. Back then it was recognised that although Bashar al-Assad was a tyrant, destroying ISIS would still benefit humanity and Syrians in general so Europe contributed to the anti-ISIS coalition. On the other hand, Sudan is not being offered this treatment and the RSF, although is committing crimesas brutal as ISIS (only on a larger scale), they are still being treated as a legitimate organisation due to their backing of the UAE.
The EU still needs to get its facts right about Sudan and most importantly, it needs to contend with the fact that a genocide has just occurred literally a couple of months ago in the city of Al-Fashir. Journalists remain imprisoned by the terrorist militia while the EU is discussing a trade deal with the patrons of these terrorists – this is unacceptable. The EU is excusing itself by sanctioning RSF officials and providing humanitarian aid, but this is also serving the EU to actually avoid doing something meaningful that would end the proxy-war in Sudan.
As Europe discusses its trade deal with the UAE, it is sending it a message that it will accept its genocidal imperial adventures in Africa – the EU is wrong to accept this. Instead of bribing North African dictators to keep immigrants away from Europe, Europe should become more active in Africa by building partnerships and alliances. The absence of a strong Europe in Africa is leading to many African states and leaders, including Sudan itself, to turn to Russia for help – some do this not out of ideological choice but due to the limited options available. Ultimately it is in Europe’s interest to become more active in Africa.
Europe can also be a force of good in the world, and it can also do this by intervening minimally to create a very large impact. The RSF are militarily very weak and very disorganised – they are only capable of conducting their genocidal war with the help and support of the UAE. The RSF can be quickly defeated and disarmed with an air campaign that could last just weeks and the end of the RSF. The EU can also join the US effort in pressuring the UAE to end arms supplies to the RSF. Defeating and disarming the RSF would effectively end an ongoing genocide and save hundreds of thousands of lives.
Featured below, Sudan’s Prime Minister Kamil Idris at the UN Security Council earlier this week.
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