Sudan says Hemetti did not support Putin’s policy on Ukraine

February 24, 2022 (KHARTOUM)  – In an effort to avoid a diplomatic crisis with the West, the Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs quickly denied statements attributed to the Deputy Chairman of the Sovereign Council supporting Putin’s decision to recognize the independence of two Ukrainian regions.

Hemetti’s “statements were taken out of context,” said the foreign ministry in a statement attributed to its embassy in Moscow on Thursday.

Speaking after his arrival to Moscow on Wednesday, Hemetti was asked by a local media, FAN New outlet, about his opinion on Russia’s support to its citizens in Donbass region of eastern Ukraine controlled by pro-Russian separatists.

The Deputy Head of the Sovereign Council Mohamed Hamdan Daglo “Hemetti” started by expressing hope that the conflict would be resolved peacefully so that war would be avoided.

“Russia has the right to act in the interests of its citizens and protect its people. It has the right under the constitution and under the law. The whole world must realize that it has the right to defend its people,” the Sudanese official further said.

Hemetti “spoke in general about the need to follow diplomatic means to resolve the crisis, and stressed Russia’s right to protect its citizens as guaranteed by law and the constitution,” reads the statement.

“Therefore, we consider that publishing that statement in this manner is a deliberate distortion, taking the speech of the First Deputy out of context, and a cheap attempt to fish in troubled waters,” stressed the foreign ministry.

Hemetti statements were widely shared on social media with a lot of discontent about this gaffe.

The Sudanese Professionals Association (SPA) issued a statement denouncing Hemetti statements.

The statement of the Deputy Chairman of the Sovereign Council do not represent Sudan and the people of Sudan, nor do they express their vision of foreign policy and international relations that unite Sudan with its international and regional friends and partners, stressed the group.