The Face of Truth: A Bet on Disappointment?!
Ibrahim Shaglawi
With the Sudanese army advancing on various military fronts, regional and international movements have significantly increased in an effort to stop the war in Sudan and control the political process that will shape the “next day” after the war. In the past weeks, there has been a frantic race among regional and international powers to influence the course of events, reflecting that the situation on the ground has begun to shift in favor of the Sudanese army, while the militias have started losing international and regional support.
In light of these continuous victories by the Sudanese army, the regional, international, and even local forces that had supported the militias began to reassess their positions. As a result, attempts are being made in Nairobi to form a government under the banner of withdrawing legitimacy, while the real aim is to hold a winning card that some parties can use to strengthen their positions. During the Security Council meeting held last Thursday, it appeared that the international community is now focusing on the necessity of supporting Sudan in forming a new phase, away from the militias that had previously enjoyed unofficial support from some countries.
Sudanese Ambassador to the United Nations, Harith Idris, confirmed before the Council that Sudan will undergo an inclusive political process after the war ends, and that the militias have no place in the country’s future. Harith also emphasized the need to hold accountable those responsible for human rights violations, particularly the crimes committed by the militias backed by foreign mercenaries. This meeting revealed an important shift in international positions. Some major countries, such as Russia, as usual, openly supported the Sudanese army and the Sovereign Council of Sudan as the legitimate authority in the country. Russia, which had been previously accused of balancing support for the warring parties after its recent use of the veto in favor of Sudan, reaffirmed its opposition to any unilateral foreign interventions aimed at undermining Sudan’s sovereignty.
On the other hand, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who chaired the Council session, declared his country’s support for humanitarian efforts in Sudan, while increasing pressure on countries that continue to support the militias. He used veiled phrases that observers interpreted as targeting the United Arab Emirates, the primary supporter of the militias according to the Sudanese government. He sent a sharp message to countries providing military support to the warring factions in Sudan or benefiting from the conflict, saying, “Enough of this.” He stated before the Security Council, “Use your resources to alleviate the suffering of the Sudanese, not to deepen it. Use your influence to end the war, not to prolong it. Don’t just claim that you care about Sudan’s future, prove it.” At the regional level, African efforts were notably present.
In Nouakchott, Mauritania, high-level consultative meetings took place, during which the developments of the situation in Sudan were discussed, including possible solutions on both humanitarian and political fronts. During a meeting on Tuesday, UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy, Ramtane Lamamra, met with Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, who is currently heading the African Union, to discuss ways to enhance cooperation in finding solutions to the Sudanese crisis. It was agreed on the importance of regional and international coordination to find a permanent solution. Additionally, Lamamra is expected to arrive in Port Sudan today, Saturday, for a visit aimed at completing consultations on the situation in Sudan.
These movements reflect an increasing interest by the African Union and other regional bodies in engaging the Sudanese parties in an inclusive dialogue that will lead to a definitive end to the war. In the same context, there were efforts at the level of cooperation among Sudan’s neighboring countries. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at the Summit of Developing Eight Countries, where they stressed the need to enhance coordination between the two countries in addressing the Sudanese crisis. The two presidents, according to Egyptian media, added the need to protect Sudan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and condemned the violations carried out by the militias in various parts of the country.
This is in light of Turkey’s initiative presented earlier in the week, which proposed a meeting between Sudan and the UAE to discuss halting support for the militias and supplying them with weapons and fighters. In addition to these political and diplomatic moves, international efforts have also focused on providing humanitarian assistance. The United States announced an additional $200 million in humanitarian aid to Sudan, bringing the total U.S. assistance to $2.3 billion. Washington confirmed that it will continue to use all possible means of pressure on the warring parties, including imposing further sanctions, to stop violations and punish the perpetrators. U.S. Congresswoman Sarah Jacobs, according to “Sudan News,” stated that the United Arab Emirates informed U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration that it would stop supporting the Rapid Support Forces. It is worth noting that Sarah Jacobs was among the members of Congress who urged Biden to press the UAE to stop supporting the militias.
On the other hand, the Thursday Security Council session saw an unprecedented condemnation from the French representative of the militias’ attacks in North Darfur, the Gezira, and Khartoum, marking the first time France condemned the violations of the Rapid Support Forces. This condemnation highlights a significant shift in France’s and the international community’s stance toward the militias and confirms the decline in international support for them. Coinciding with the political and humanitarian developments, Sultan of Dar Masalit, Saad Bahr al-Din, presented evidence of the massacres committed against his tribe by the militias, reminding the Council of the atrocity of burning people alive and desecrating their bodies.
Therefore, based on what we see from the face of truth and in light of international and regional movements, it seems that Sudan is entering a new phase of potential pressures in an attempt to shape the “next day” after the war. The chances of completing the peace process in Sudan are increasing, but this requires vigilance and caution from the Sudanese army, the government, and national parties to avoid solutions that may revive international and colonial ambitions once again. Thus, it remains crucial to keep the country away from colonial agendas while ensuring the implementation of decisions related to legal justice, humanitarian aid, and the rebuilding of Sudan after years of a bet on disappointment.
May you remain in good health and well-being.
Saturday, December 21, 2024.
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