The Truth’s Perspective: Blinken: The Last Chance Meeting
Ibrahim Shglawi
In the context of recent political developments related to the Sudan war, the name of U.S. Senator Ben Cardin, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, emerges as a key player in shaping the American stance on the Sudanese crisis. The scheduled UN Security Council session today, December 19, 2024, chaired by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, presents a critical opportunity to shape new international positions on the crisis in Sudan alongside addressing the humanitarian situation. This session underscores the importance of U.S. political intervention, given its significant leverage over supporters and key actors in this war.
The Americans seem determined this time to take a step forward in condemning the brutal violations perpetrated by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) directly in front of the international community. Hence, the importance of today’s session, convening at 4:00 PM Sudan time, as reported by local media. This meeting represents a pivotal juncture in the international handling of the Sudanese crisis. It is set to discuss the humanitarian situation in Sudan under the leadership of the United States, which holds the Security Council presidency this month.
This session comes in the wake of the Council’s failure last November to adopt a draft resolution aimed at protecting civilians and facilitating humanitarian aid, which was blocked by a Russian veto. Additionally, the session will review reports by UN Secretary-General António Guterres and his Under-Secretary for Humanitarian Affairs, Thomas Fletcher, reflecting continued international concern over the impact of the war on civilians. While this concern is encouraging, it necessitates strict measures that Sudan has previously called for during earlier sessions, such as halting arms supplies to militias and condemning the regional parties involved, including the United Arab Emirates.
It is therefore imperative to immediately adopt clear political decisions condemning the RSF and their local and regional backers as the main culprits in the heinous violations against civilians. Simultaneously, the Security Council’s Sanctions Committee convened in December to discuss the implementation of sanctions imposed on Sudan under Resolution 1591, which includes an arms embargo on Darfur, travel bans, and asset freezes for individuals involved in crimes in the region. These sanctions, renewed last August, are among the ongoing measures to pressure parties involved in the conflict.
It is evident that the United States enters this meeting with a final chance before the end of President Joe Biden’s term to achieve a breakthrough that could pave the way for viable solutions to ensure peace and restore security for the Sudanese people. In a notable preemptive step, Senator Ben Cardin, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, sent a letter two days ago to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, according to Brown Land. In it, he called for bold actions during this session addressing the Sudan crisis.
Cardin emphasized the need for a comprehensive arms embargo on Darfur, highlighting the role the U.S. plays in funding some of these arms. This shift in the American position, expressed by Senator Cardin, reflects a growing sense of responsibility towards the situation in Sudan. He pointed out that the continued flow of arms to the RSF constitutes a blatant violation of the arms embargo in place for more than 20 years. Cardin also stressed the need to hold accountable the nations contributing to this flow, marking a significant evolution in U.S. policy regarding the war in Sudan.
Observers believe that Cardin’s statements carry particular weight amid major political shifts in the United States. The Biden administration is expected to witness a transformation as its term nears its end, potentially paving the way for Donald Trump’s entry into the White House with a reduced foreign policy burden. Trump has repeatedly declared his intention to end America’s overseas wars. From this perspective, the U.S. stance on the Sudanese crisis could undergo a dramatic change, especially if the Security Council adopts a firmer position during this session against regional actors supporting the RSF.
Moreover, it is important not to overlook the U.S. House of Representatives’ November 2024 vote in favor of classifying RSF atrocities in Darfur as “genocide.” This qualitative shift in the American position, passed unanimously, reflects broad congressional consensus on the necessity of decisive measures to counter human rights violations in Sudan perpetrated by the RSF. Observers suggest that this shift could have a significant impact if the Senate supports the decision, paving the way for stricter sanctions against regional actors fueling the Sudanese crisis.
Thus, from this truth’s perspective, we can conclude that notable political developments led by the United States may soon unfold. Senator Ben Cardin’s positions reflect a remarkable shift in U.S. policy toward Sudan. The transformation in the U.S. Congress, whether through voting to classify the RSF as war criminals or pressing the administration to enforce the arms embargo, suggests that Washington may be on the verge of taking stronger steps for peace in Sudan while curbing militia violations. Amid expectations of a change in leadership at the White House, the coming weeks and months will be critical in determining the trajectory of the Sudan war and the future of regional and international interventions.
It is also worth noting the ongoing efforts, as of the writing of this article, in Mauritania under the leadership of President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, the current Chair of the African Union, and with the participation of the UN Secretary-General’s envoy to Sudan, Ramathan Lamamra, to unify initiatives advocating for peace in Sudan. We will delve into this later, God willing.
May you remain in good health and well-being.
Thursday, December 19, 2024
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