Latest news with #YassinIbrahim
Russia Today
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
African state cuts ties with UAE
Sudan has severed diplomatic ties with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) over the Gulf nation's alleged support for the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), the paramilitary group engaged in a protracted civil war with the African state's military. In a statement on Tuesday, Defense Minister Yassin Ibrahim accused the UAE of violating Sudanese sovereignty by supplying weapons to its 'local agent' the RSF, which Khartoum blames for recent drone strikes on Port Sudan and other acts of aggression. 'The [Sudanese Security and Defense] Council decided to declare the United Arab Emirates a state of aggression, sever diplomatic relations with it, and withdraw the Sudanese embassy and consulate general,' the minister announced after an emergency meeting chaired by army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. Sudan was one of the first countries to establish relations with the UAE following its formation in 1971, and the two have maintained mostly cordial ties over the decades. Abu Dhabi positioned itself as a key player in Sudan's political transition after the 2019 ouster of former Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir. The diplomatic rupture follows a setback for Sudan at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which on Monday dismissed a genocide case Khartoum filed against the UAE. Sudan had accused the Abu Dhabi of providing arms and funding to the RSF, particularly in the context of ethnic violence against the Masalit people in West Darfur. The court found it lacked jurisdiction to hear the complaint, citing the UAE's reservation when it joined the Genocide Convention in 2005. The UAE has rejected Sudan's allegations as 'baseless' and welcomed the ICJ ruling as a confirmation that the case lacked merit. More than 24,000 people have been killed in Sudan, and over 14 million displaced, with half of the population facing acute hunger since clashes broke out in April 2023, according to the United Nations. The Sudanese government on Tuesday accused the RSF of launching three days of attacks on critical infrastructure in Port Sudan – the country's main port and de facto administrative capital – including the airport and maritime facilities. Officials said the strikes disrupted air traffic and halted humanitarian operations in a city that had largely been spared from the two-year conflict.
Leaders
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Leaders
Sudan Severs Diplomatic Ties with UAE Amidst Escalating Conflict
Military-led government in Sudan has severed all diplomatic relations with the United Arab Emirates in a dramatic escalation of tensions between the two nations. The Sudanese defense minister delivered the announcement through a strongly-worded televised address broadcast across the nation yesterday. Defense Minister Yassin Ibrahim forcefully condemned the UAE's alleged interference in Sudan's internal affairs during his emotionally charged speech to the Sudanese people. The minister labeled the wealthy Gulf nation as an 'aggressor state' while announcing the immediate withdrawal of Sudan's ambassador from Abu Dhabi. Sudanese officials have simultaneously ordered the closure of their embassy and consulate in the UAE, effectively ending all formal diplomatic channels between the two nations. This decisive action represents the most serious diplomatic rupture between Sudan and any Arab nation since the devastating civil conflict began in April 2023. Accusations of Proxy Warfare The Sudanese government directly accused the UAE of violating the country's sovereignty by supporting the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group fighting against Sudan's army. Minister Ibrahim claimed that the UAE has been secretly supplying advanced weapons systems to the RSF throughout the prolonged and bloody conflict. The dramatic announcement follows three consecutive days of drone strikes against Port Sudan, the temporary capital where the government relocated. Previously considered relatively secure, Port Sudan has recently experienced unprecedented attacks that have destroyed key infrastructure and killed several civilians. Moreover, Sudan has taken its case to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), accusing the UAE of complicity in genocide by supporting the RSF. The court, however, ruled that it could not proceed because the UAE had opted out of Article 9 of the Genocide Convention, which means that it cannot be sued by other states over genocide allegations. UAE Denies Involvement The United Arab Emirates has consistently rejected all accusations of interference in the Sudanese conflict despite mounting evidence suggesting otherwise from international observers. The UAE emphasized its substantial humanitarian contributions to Sudan's struggling civilian population throughout the ongoing crisis. The bitter conflict between Sudan's army and the Rapid Support Forces has created the world's largest displacement crisis, forcing over thirteen million people from their homes. International aid organizations report alarming levels of food insecurity affecting nearly twenty million Sudanese citizens across multiple regions. Medical facilities in Sudan have collapsed under the weight of the emergency, with less than thirty percent of hospitals functioning properly. Disease outbreaks have become increasingly common in crowded displacement camps where clean water remains scarce and medical supplies frequently run out. Road to Peace Remains Uncertain International peace initiatives have repeatedly failed to produce lasting ceasefires despite extensive diplomatic efforts led by the United States and African Union. The Jeddah peace process stalled after multiple violations from both warring parties destroyed fragile trust between military leaders. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and unrestricted humanitarian access to affected areas. The latest diplomatic crisis further complicates peace prospects by introducing additional international dimensions to an already complex conflict. Short link : Post Views: 76
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Port Sudan explosions: Lifeline for aid comes under attack for fourth day
Explosions have been heard at the Port of Sudan, a critical lifeline and entry point for aid, as attacks on the city continued for a fourth day in the latest confrontation between Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the country's brutal two-year civil war. The attacks have been blamed on the RSF by Sudan's army and by residents. On Wednesday morning, an army source told the AFP news agency on condition of anonymity that the explosion was due to a drone attack that was met with 'anti-aircraft missiles'. The Port of Sudan on the Red Sea coast had been a haven city hosting hundreds of thousands of displaced people since the war began and serves as an interim seat for Sudan's military-allied government, which has been at war with the RSF since 2023. The attacks on Port Sudan have increased fears of disruptions to desperately needed aid deliveries in the country suffering one of the world's most dire humanitarian crises, and where famine has been declared in some areas. Nearly all aid into Sudan flows through Port Sudan, which the United Nations called on Tuesday 'a lifeline for humanitarian operations', warning of more 'human suffering in what is already the world's largest humanitarian crisis'. Drone attacks Attacks on Port Sudan began on Sunday after drone strikes were blamed on the RSF. The latest attacks come after the RSF targeted the airport, the port and the hotel in the city on Tuesday, a military official said. The paramilitary group has not commented on the attacks on Port Sudan. Sudan's Information Minister Khalid Aleiser visited the southern part of the port on Tuesday and slammed the United Arab Emirates, whom he accused of arming the RSF. 'We will continue our legitimate battle,' he said. Defence Minister Yassin Ibrahim announced that the government was severing diplomatic ties with the UAE, including withdrawing its ambassador and shutting its embassy in the Gulf country. 'The entire world has witnessed, for more than two years, the crime of aggression against Sudan's sovereignty, territorial integrity and the safety of its citizens by the UAE, acting through its local proxy, the terrorist RSF militia,' Ibrahim said. The UAE has long rejected claims of its support for the RSF and condemned the attack. The International Court of Justice dismissed a case on Monday brought by Sudan accusing the UAE of breaching the UN Genocide Convention by arming and funding the RSF. The top UN court said it 'manifestly lacked' the authority to continue the proceedings and threw out the case.
LBCI
06-05-2025
- Politics
- LBCI
Sudan army-aligned government declares UAE 'aggressor state,' cuts ties
Sudan's army-aligned government on Tuesday severed its diplomatic ties with the United Arab Emirates, declaring the Gulf country an "aggressor state," the Sudanese defense minister said. In a televised speech, Yassin Ibrahim said Sudan was "severing diplomatic relations with the UAE" and withdrawing its ambassador, accusing the Gulf country of violating Sudan's sovereignty through its "proxy," the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, which has been at war with the army since April 2023. AFP
The Guardian
06-05-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Sudan to cut ties with United Arab Emirates over alleged RSF support
Sudan's security and defence council has declared that it will break diplomatic relations with the United Arab Emirates over its alleged backing of the paramilitary Sudanese Rapid Support Forces. During a televised speech on Tuesday, Sudan's defence minister, Yassin Ibrahim, said Sudan was 'severing diplomatic relations with the UAE' and recalling its ambassador, claiming the Gulf nation had breached Sudan's sovereignty through its RSF 'proxy', which has been fighting the army in a bloody civil war since April 2023. The UAE insists it does not provide arms to the RSF, and on Monday fended off an attempt to persuade the international court of justice in The Hague to examine Sudan's claims the UAE was complicit in a genocide in Darfur. The ICJ said it could not examine the claim because the UAE, a party to the genocide convention, had put in a reservation that prevented the ICJ adjudicating on claims that the UAE had breached the convention. Sudan's diplomatic move came as alliance of aid agencies working in Sudan expressed deep concern about what it described as 'the deliberate targeting of critical infrastructure in Port Sudan', the main artery for aid into the north African country. A succession of drone and missile attacks, starting on 4 May, have hit Port Sudan international airport, fuel storage facilities, the maritime port, at least one hotel, as well as water and power facilities, in direct violation of the fundamental principles of distinction and proportionality under international humanitarian law, the NGOs said. They said: 'These assaults have caused widespread fires, heavy smoke over residential areas, and flight cancellations, further endangering the lives and wellbeing of thousands of innocent civilians'. Since the conflict's outset, aid agencies have depended on Port Sudan – and particularly its airport and seaport – as the main conduit for international assistance. It has also become the home to many internationally displaced people relocated from different states. The United Nations has been forced to suspend humanitarian flights to Port Sudan after these strikes, a step that wil inevitably limit the delivery of lifesaving aid. The agencies said damage to power stations was also forcing them to rely on generator power, raising concerns about looming fuel shortages. They said: 'Further bombardment of energy and water infrastructure will deepen the risk of disease outbreaks, malnutrition, and protection crises among the most vulnerable, including women, children, and the elderly. It will also severely constrain aid agencies' ability to respond to the growing needs in Sudan. 'We urge all parties to the conflict to fully respect their obligations under the Geneva conventions, to differentiate between military objectives and civilian objects, and to facilitate unimpeded humanitarian access to all areas in need.' A British-led effort to set up a contact group among the external states both in the region and in the west to help take the first steps to create a broad roadmap for peace foundered at a London conference, partly due to differences between the UAE and Egypt.
