By Michelle Nichols
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – Sudan and the United Arab Emirates clashed at the UN Security Council on Tuesday over accusations by the army-aligned Sudanese government that the UAE is supplying weapons and support to a rival party to the conflict that has lasted 14 months in the country. .
Sitting next to each other at the Security Council table, UAE Ambassador to the UN Mohamed Abushahab said Sudan’s UN Ambassador Al-Harith Idriss Al-Harith Mohamed had made “ridiculous” and false allegations designed to divert attention from the “serious violations taking place on the ground.” “
War broke out in April last year between the Sudanese army and the Paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) over the transition to free elections. The UN says around 25 million people – half of Sudan’s population – need aid, famine is imminent and around eight million people have fled their homes.
“The military aggression launched by the Rapid Support militia, supported with weapons by the Emirates, deliberately and systematically targets villages and cities,” Mohamed told the Security Council.
UN sanctions monitors have described allegations that the UAE provided military support to the RSF as “credible”. The UAE has denied involvement in military support to any of the warring parties in Sudan.
Without naming any countries, the Security Council adopted a resolution last week that called on countries “to refrain from external interference that seeks to foment conflict and instability” and reminded “member states that facilitate transfers of arms and material military to Darfur from its obligations to comply with arms embargo measures.”
The United States claims that the warring parties committed war crimes and that the RSF and allied militias also committed crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing.
Abushahab turned to his Sudanese counterpart at the Security Council table and said: “If they seek an end to conflict and civilian suffering, then why are they not coming to the Jeddah talks? Why are they blocking aid? What are you waiting for?
“You should stop showing off in international forums like this and instead take responsibility for ending the conflict you started,” Abushahab added.
Late last month, the Sudanese army rejected a call to return to peace talks with the RSF in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Mohamed responded angrily to Abushahab: “Whoever wants to create peace in Sudan must first come with pure intentions and the UAE is the state that sponsors terrorism.”
(Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Editing by Mark Potter)
