New york: The UN Security Council on Friday became a forum for intense mutual recriminations as representatives from the US, Sudan, and the United Arab Emirates traded blame for the deepening humanitarian catastrophe in Sudan.
According to Anadolu Agency, US Senior Adviser Massad Boulos announced that the US is imposing a second round of sanctions on Sudan for its alleged use of chemical weapons, which violates international law. Boulos accused the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) of using illegal weaponry and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of engaging in genocide.
Sudan's representative, Al-Harith Idriss al-Harith Mohamed, denied the chemical weapons allegations and argued that the matter should be handled by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). He stated that a US team had previously taken soil samples from four regions and claimed that no proof has been provided by the US to support the charge.
Sudan has been engulfed in conflict since April 2023, when fighting erupted between the army and the RSF. The war has triggered one of the world's worst humanitarian crises, killing tens of thousands and displacing millions.
Boulos further warned that military support from more than a dozen countries is creating a "death spiral" for the Sudanese people. He called for the immediate expansion of the existing arms embargo on Darfur to cover all of Sudan. However, Sudan rejected the proposal, arguing that an expanded embargo would prevent the army from acquiring weapons to defend its territories.
Sudan also accused the UAE of providing a continuous flow of military support to RSF rebels, including "strategic suicide drones" and other weaponry. The Sudanese envoy alleged that complex logistical routes were uncovered involving "Colombian mercenaries" who were trained in the UAE before being deployed. Sudan also claimed that gold smuggling reached 56 tons last year, valued at more than $7 billion.
UAE Ambassador Mohamed Issa Abushahab rejected these claims as "baseless allegations," asserting that Sudan was merely trying to shift blame for the war. He criticized Sudan for misusing the Security Council's platform to advance false allegations.
The UAE countered by accusing both the Sudanese government and the RSF of prolonging the violence. Abushahab emphasized that the political and humanitarian responsibility for the conflict lies with the warring parties and urged the Security Council to compel them to accept a truce.
Washington also accused the Sudanese Sovereign Council of rejecting peace initiatives, including a text presented on Friday. Sudan's representative claimed that the US had ignored a counter-offer that included a schedule for withdrawal and establishing peace.