Port Sudan: Sudan’s army-linked Prime Minister Kamel Idris affirmed his government’s willingness to engage with countries supporting the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) a veiled reference to the United Arab Emirates just days after presenting an initiative to the UN Security Council aimed at ending the war.
Speaking at a press conference in Port Sudan upon returning from New York, Idris said: “There is a prevailing impression that we reject peace, but this visit proves that we are advocates of peace, and that this war was imposed upon us,” referring to the clashes that erupted between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF in mid-April 2023.
He added, “Even with countries that have backed the RSF, we will seek to improve Sudan’s relations with them as a step toward a just peace and an end to the war that satisfies all the Sudanese people.”
Although Idris did not name any specific country, Sudanese officials have repeatedly accused the UAE of supporting the RSF and supplying it with weapons—a claim Abu Dhabi denies.
The war in Sudan has killed tens of thousands and displaced millions, which the United Nations describes as “the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.”
Earlier this week, Idris presented to the UN Security Council “Sudan’s Peace Initiative,” which calls for the withdrawal of RSF forces “from all areas they occupy,” alongside a ceasefire “monitored jointly by the United Nations, the African Union, and the Arab League.”
Idris stressed that this does not entail the deployment of “any UN forces” inside Sudan.
He added that the initiative also envisions a dialogue to reach consensus on “how Sudan should be governed… from which we will move toward internationally monitored free and direct elections.”
Idris described his meeting at the Security Council as “successful,” expressing gratitude to U.S. President Donald Trump, his envoy Mossad Boulos, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for their efforts to end the conflict.
Peace efforts previously led by the International Quartet—comprising the United States, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE had stalled after Sudanese army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan accused the UAE of siding with the RSF.
Diplomatic efforts were renewed last month after Trump pledged to end the conflict following talks with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Earlier this month, al-Burhan also expressed readiness to work with Trump to end the war, following discussions in Riyadh with bin Salman.
(AFP)+ Al-Yurae
