UN Security Council Postpones Sudan-UAE Conflict Talks: Analyzing International Diplomatic Maneuvers
Watan-Sudanese media reported that the United Nations Security Council has decided to postpone its deliberations on Sudan’s complaint against the United Arab Emirates and its accusation of igniting and fueling the Sudanese conflict until next May, noting that this came at the request of Britain.
The meeting scheduled for Tuesday was supposed to discuss the humanitarian crisis in Sudan, arms flow violations, and Sudan’s accusations against the UAE of aggression through support for the quasi-military “Rapid Support Forces” under Hemeti’s command, which are fighting the Sudanese army.
Sudan’s ambassador, Al-Harith Idriss, stated in remarks to Sudanese state television that the postponement was “procedural” due to the lack of an English translation of the complaint, according to “Sudan Tribune.”
Idriss affirmed that the delay “will not prevent the condemnation of the UAE” and that the discussion will be transferred to the presidency of Mozambique in May.
Sudanese criticism of British intervention
The Sudanese ambassador criticized Britain’s intervention, the penholder on Sudan’s file (the state currently responsible for drafting Sudan-related resolutions), describing it as “arbitrary and lacking neutrality.”
Originally, the session on Monday was supposed to be an informal meeting that non-member states could be invited to. However, the format of the Security Council meeting was changed to closed consultations, and non-member states like Sudan were no longer allowed to participate.
The Sudanese ambassador pointed out that the complaint shook the UAE and pressured Western Security Council members to postpone the meeting.
أصداء شكوى #السودان ضد #الامارات في #مجلس_الأمن :
أعلن مندوب السودان بالأمم المتحدة السفير #الحارث_ادريس في تصريح للتلفزيون قبل قليل ان بريطانيا تدخلت لتغيير طبيعة جلسة مجلس الأمن التي طالب بها السودان من مغلقه يحق للسودان المشاركة فيها إلى جلسه تشاور خاصه بأعضاء المجلس حصرا.… pic.twitter.com/P8YVkVkzEH
— Mahmoud Hassan (@AL7oOoT1986) April 29, 2024
UAE denies allegations against it
The UAE denies any involvement in the Sudanese conflict, describing these allegations as “baseless” in a message to the Security Council.
The British newspaper “The Times” published a report on Sunday indicating that the UAE canceled ministerial meetings with Britain due to its failure to stand by it against accusations presented to the United Nations.
The newspaper, in its report, clarified that a former British minister criticized his country’s stance on accusations by the Sudanese delegate at the United Nations against Abu Dhabi’s support for the Rapid Support Forces.
Former minister Nazim Zahawi said, “The British response to this was lukewarm to the point where the Emiratis suspended all meetings with Britain and expressed anger at their passive stance, leaving the Sudanese to announce it.”
مندوب السودان في مجلس الأمن يهاجم الإمارات ويتهمها بتسليح الدعم السريع pic.twitter.com/3kaQeHNABD
— شبكة رصد (@RassdNewsN) April 22, 2024
The newspaper quoted sources as saying that the quadripartite ministerial meeting was supposed to be held in recent weeks. The newspaper added that suspending the meeting because of Sudan adds to the tension between the two countries, after the British government intervened to prevent a group supported by Abu Dhabi from acquiring the “Daily Telegraph” newspaper.
Earlier on Tuesday, the RedBird IMI group owned by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan announced its withdrawal from the newspaper purchase deal, against the backdrop of pressures and measures taken by the British government to hinder the acquisition.
The war in Sudan has created the largest humanitarian catastrophe in the world, leading to the displacement of 8.5 million people, with 25 million people in urgent need of humanitarian aid.
Experts warn of an impending famine that could kill between half a million to a million people.
