UAE Accuses Sudanese Army of Bombing Diplomatic Residence in Khartoum
The United Arab Emirates has accused the Sudanese army of bombing its ambassador’s residence in Khartoum, intending to file formal complaints with the UN and regional organizations. The incident highlights escalating tensions and deteriorating diplomatic relations between the two nations amidst ongoing conflict in Sudan.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has formally accused the Sudanese army of conducting a bombing on the ambassador’s residence in Khartoum. This incident has prompted the UAE to announce its intention to lodge a formal complaint with the United Nations and other regional organizations. In an official statement by the UAE foreign ministry, it was reported that the attack, executed by a Sudanese military aircraft, resulted in “significant damage” to the diplomatic building, although the precise timing of the incident remains unspecified. The statement expressed the UAE’s plan to file a letter of protest against the Sudanese Armed Forces, characterizing the bombing as a “flagrant violation of the fundamental principle of the inviolability of diplomatic premises.” Despite the escalating conflict between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), most foreign diplomatic missions had evacuated Khartoum by April 2023, repositioning to Port Sudan on the eastern coastline. Currently, as the Sudanese army intensifies its offensive against the RSF positions in Khartoum, it has accused the RSF of perpetrating acts of looting and aggression against foreign diplomatic missions. Relations between the UAE and Sudan have significantly soured since the onset of the conflict, with allegations from the Sudanese army claiming that the UAE is providing support to the RSF; these allegations have been categorically denied by the UAE. Notably, the UAE’s ambassador to Sudan departed from the country following the outbreak of hostilities. Although the ambassador and a significant portion of personnel left, the UAE embassy continues its operations in Port Sudan. Compounding the diplomatic tensions, Sudan has issued a complaint to the UN Security Council, alleging that the UAE has supplied weapons to the RSF via Chad, a charge that the UAE has dismissed as “utterly false and baseless.” Earlier this year, the two nations also expelled one another’s diplomats.
The ongoing conflict in Sudan, which escalated in April 2023, primarily involves clashes between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). This tumultuous situation has led to a mass evacuation of diplomatic missions from the capital, Khartoum, raising concerns about the safety and security of diplomatic personnel and facilities amid the violence. Relations between the UAE and Sudan have seen a sharp decline, influenced by mutual accusations of supporting opposing military factions, further complicating diplomatic relations in a volatile regional context.
In summary, the UAE’s accusations against the Sudanese army regarding the bombing of its ambassador’s residence escalate already strained diplomatic relations amid ongoing conflict. The UAE’s planned responses reflect its commitment to protecting diplomatic norms while Sudan’s counter-accusations add another layer of complexity to this situation. The continuing hostilities in Sudan result in a volatile environment for diplomacy, necessitating close monitoring by international bodies.
Original Source: sudantribune.com
