ABDEL-FATTAH AL-BURHAN ABDELRAHMAN AL-BURHAN, President of the Transitional Sovereign Council of Sudan, said his country stands convinced of the important role played by the United Nations and supports all initiatives towards reforming the Organization and its bodies, specifically the Security Council, so that these bodies can put an end to the protracted crises. “Unilateral measures taken outside the United Nations framework in complete violation of the UN Charter and international law, political and economic restrictions — these are the main drivers of instability,” he stressed, adding that double standards and selectiveness are currently prevailing in international affairs.

In Sudan, a war is being waged by a group of rebels receiving political and logistical support at the local and regional level, he said. “You’ve all witnessed the crimes, violations and atrocities committed by these rebels targeting the Sudanese people and the Sudanese State,” he emphasized, pointing to countless crimes, ethnic cleansing, forced displacement and genocide by the Rapid Support Forces, which should be considered a terrorist group.  “And it is most unfortunate that it is receiving the support of some States in the region,” he specified, adding that the terrorist group has also hit diplomatic missions and the UN office in Sudan, so there is all the more reason to call for Security Council reform to avoid the policy of impunity and double standards.  “This devastating aggression being waged by the RSF [Rapid Support Forces], with the support of the States in the region providing funding and mercenaries as well as weapons to the RSF, has resulted in the deaths of dozens of thousands of Sudanese and the displacement of many millions more,” he recalled, pointing out the regional political players who are in favour of the war.

He stated that the Sudanese Government is steadfastly committed to facilitating humanitarian assistance and protecting humanitarian convoys and personnel.  “The protection of civilians is our responsibility, especially when women and children are being hit the hardest by violations committed in the areas controlled by the militias — some women and children have even been sold in the marketplace,” he said.  “This organization must shoulder its responsibility, specifically so as to protect developing countries in the face of the efforts of some other States who would like to control our people’s riches through the use of force and specifically through the use of money,” he stressed, adding that numerous crimes in Sudan are the product of the policy of double standards as well as political approaches based on exerting power and economic blackmail.

Recalling that the Sudanese Armed Forces is one of the State’s oldest institutions, which is non-politicized and is very much in favour of the democratic transition, upholding the commitments of the glorious 2019 revolution, he said that his country will never accept the return to the previous regime, which was rejected by the Sudanese people.  “We will continue pursuing peace, working with all groups who laid down their weapons as well as with groups who still carry weapons but who are willing to respect the Juba Peace Agreement signed in 2020,” he said, adding that the Rapid Support Forces rebelled against the State and are committing terrorist crimes, so they should be considered as such at the United Nations. In conclusion, he urged to put an immediate end to the aggression in Gaza and Lebanon, calling for full membership in the United Nations for Palestine.