Sudan finance minister urges closure of Chad border crossing
October 19, 2024 (PORT SUDAN) – Finance Minister Gibril Ibrahim on Saturday called for the immediate closure of the Adre border crossing with Chad, alleging it has become a conduit for weapons reaching the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
Ibrahim, who also leads the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), a peace signatory group allied with the Sudanese army, asserted that the crossing, intended for humanitarian aid, is being exploited to fuel the conflict.
“The West and organizations that pushed for opening the Adre crossing for humanitarian purposes have inadvertently facilitated the supply of lethal weapons to the RSF militia,” Ibrahim stated on social media platform X. “This crossing must be closed without delay.”
The Adre crossing was reopened in August following pressure from international bodies, including the United Nations, to facilitate aid delivery to Darfur, a region ravaged by conflict and facing a severe humanitarian crisis.
A coalition of international donors, including Canada, the European Commission, France, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK, and the US, joined the ALPS group in urging the indefinite opening of the Adré border crossing.
This call to action comes in response to the urgent need for humanitarian aid in the region.
The UN recently reported that over 200 trucks carrying essential aid for 615,000 vulnerable people, including those at risk of famine, have passed through the crossing since its reopening.
However, the Sudanese army contends that the RSF, which controls West Darfur where the crossing is located, is receiving weapons shipments via the UAE through this route.
This situation highlights the complexities and challenges of delivering humanitarian aid in conflict zones, where access routes can be exploited for military advantage.
The Sudanese Sovereign Council recently approved the opening of several airports, including Kadugli, for relief flights and announced plans to transport aid from Juba, South Sudan, to Kadugli.
(ST)