Sudan confirms receiving Chadian decision to expel four Sudanese diplomats

December 16, 2023 (PORT SUDAN) – Sudan has confirmed receipt of the Chadian decision to expel four Sudanese diplomats in protest of recent accusations that it has facilitated UAE support to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group fighting against the Sudanese army.

The Chadian Foreign Ministry issued a statement on Saturday saying that Minister Mahamat Saleh Annadif summoned the Sudanese Ambassador to N’Djamena Osman Mohamed Younis to inform him of his government’s decision to expel four diplomats.

“This measure follows serious and unfounded remarks by the Sudanese army deputy chief of staff Lt Genl Yasir al-Atta accusing Chad of interfering in the inter-Sudanese conflict,” the statement said. Also, it mentioned the statements made by Foreign Minister Ali Sadiq who repeated the same claims.

A Sudanese official told Sudan Tribune that they are aware of the decision and disclosed that his government would “take reciprocal action against N’Djamena, soon”.

Last week, Chad had summoned the Sudanese ambassador and demanded an apology for Al-Atta’s statements. Sudan, however, refused to apologize, maintaining that it had provided Chad with evidence supporting its claims.

The sources asked, “Why did N’Djamena not comment or respond to the documented and photographed reports that were published by international media, specialized organizations, and Chadian political parties for months about converting the Umjars airport into a supply centre for weapons and military equipment provided by the UAE for the RSF?”

The official believed that the Chadian Foreign Ministry’s move to expel four Sudanese diplomats is nothing but “an attempt to escape forward…it will not work in covering up Chad’s role in the atrocities committed by the Janjaweed militia,” he stressed referring to the war crimes and crimes against humanity by the RSF members.

Chad’s diplomatic escalation follows similar moves by the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which expelled three Sudanese diplomats, prompting Sudan to retaliate by expelling 15 Emirati diplomats.

In a related development, Sudan has appealed to the United Nations Security Council and the international community to label the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) as a terrorist organization and to criminalize any form of support or assistance to the group.

The Sudanese foreign ministry also called for any form of assistance or support to the RSF to be outlawed, equating such aid with complicity in the militia’s heinous acts of terrorism, crimes against humanity, and ongoing ethnic cleansing.

Further, the statement cited the involvement of one of its non-permanent members in aggression against Sudan. “This member’s complicity in the atrocities committed by the terrorist militia raises questions about the Council’s impartiality in addressing this grave issue”. The Sudanese government was referring to the UAE which is a non-permanent member of the Council.

Sudanese activists have recently called to consider international sanctions against Chad and UAE for violating an arms embargo on Darfur.

(ST)