Sudan’s regional allies yesterday joined forces to push back against a new US position on Sudan, after the US Department of State issued a statement saying that it does not recognise either the Sudanese Armed Forces or the RSF, or their respective leaders, as legitimate constitutional representatives of the country.
The US State Department said that both sides “rule through force of arms alone” and argued that the conduct of their respective leaders renders them ineligible to govern Sudan. Washington is demanding an immediate humanitarian truce followed by an inclusive political dialogue and a transition to civilian government.
In reaction, the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Pakistan and Turkey issued a joint statement in New York reaffirming their “unwavering support” for Sudan’s sovereignty, unity, independence and territorial integrity. The four countries also stressed the importance of preserving Sudan’s “legitimate national institutions” and rejected any parallel entities that undermine the country’s sovereignty and unity.
The statement also called for an end to the illicit flow of weapons, mercenaries and foreign fighters into Sudan. The position stands in sharp contrast to Washington’s statement that neither the Sudanese Armed Forces nor the RSF represents legitimate constitutional governance.
The United States has also refused to issue a visa to Sudan’s de facto leader and head of the Transitional Sovereignty Council, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, who was due to address the United Nations General Assembly this week.
According to Reuters, the issuance of General Burhan’s visa was made conditional on his acceptance of a 90-day ceasefire proposed by the US government. General Burhan rejected the condition, while Sudan appealed directly to UN Secretary-General António Guterres to intervene. The UN Secretary-General subsequently expressed concern over the visa issue and urged Washington to comply with its obligations as host of the United Nations.
The US is proposing an immediate 90-day humanitarian ceasefire in Sudan as the Sudanese Armed Forces make sweeping gains in North Kordofan, recapturing several strategic towns and consolidating control over an important corridor towards Darfur.
The United Arab Emirates has repeatedly called for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire and has also backed the expansion of the arms embargo across Sudan. The Sudanese government has repeatedly accused the UAE of arming and financing its proxy force, the RSF, accusations which Abu Dhabi denies.
The US is also proposing a wider arms embargo covering the whole of Sudan, which would further restrict the Sudanese government’s ability to procure weapons. The existing UN embargo applies mainly to Darfur, but Washington has been pushing the Security Council to extend it nationwide and explicitly include drones and related military technology.
US policy towards Sudan has increasingly been tilted towards the UAE’s interests, with the UAE backing and sponsoring the RSF’s war in Sudan in a bid to carve out a rump state that can carry its interests.
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