Canada seeks explanation from Sudan on diplomat expulsion

By: Wasil Ali

August 23, 2007 (OTTAWA) — The Canadian government said it will seek explanation from Sudan regarding the expulsion of its top diplomat today.

Rodney Moore, a spokesperson for the Canadian department of foreign affairs speaking by phone to Sudan Tribune from Ottawa, confirmed that its charge d’affaires in Khartoum Nuala Lawlor was asked to leave the country.

Sudan has announced the expulsion of the European Commission envoy and the Canadian charge d’affaires for “interfering in its affairs,” the official SUNA news agency reported Thursday.

It was not clear what prompted this surprise decision. However analysts say that Sudan is sensitive to any active involvement by western diplomat in the Darfur issue.

Moore praised Lawlor saying that “in the finest tradition of Canadian diplomacy she was standing up for our values of freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law in Sudan”.

Last year Sudan expelled Jan Pronk, the UN Secretary General special representative to Sudan for what they described as “exceeding his mandate”.

The White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe told reporters that Sudan “have a history of doing this sort of thing to try and thwart the will of the international community”.

(ST)