Quad countries pledge support to UN efforts for stability in Sudan

January 17, 2022 (KHARTOUM) – The Quad countries, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States pledged to continue joint efforts to achieve stability in Sudan.

The State Department on Friday announced that Assistant Secretary for Africa Molly Phee and Special Envoy for the Horn David Satterfield will participate in a meeting in Riyadh “to marshal international support for the UNITAMS in its efforts to facilitate a renewed civilian-led transition to democracy.

In a statement released on Monday, the official Saudi Press Agency (SAP) said diplomats from the four countries discussed the situation in Sudan at the foreign ministry in Riyadh on Monday evening.

The Quad “affirmed their commitment to continue joint efforts to achieve lasting stability in Sudan, continue to implement the reform agenda, provide support to Sudan, and the United Nations Integrated Transitional Assistance in Sudan (UNITAMS)”.

The short statement did not say if the group discussed the bloody violence that took place in Khartoum on the same day.

In Washington, the Spokesperson of the State Department Ned Price expressed concern about the escalating violence against protesters in Sudan.

“Assistant Secretary for Africa Phee and Special Envoy Satterfield are headed to Khartoum and will reiterate our call for security forces to end violence and respect freedom of expression and peaceful assembly,” he added.

The top U.S. diplomat for Africa is expected to meet the Sudanese stakeholders including women, youth and civil society groups as well as political forces and the military component.