FFC condemns Sudan’s visa denial for UN senior expert

May 25, 2022 (KHARTOUM) –  Sudan’s former ruling Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC) warned, on Wednesday, of the country’s return to international isolation after the refusal to renew the residence permit of a senior UN advisor.

The Sudanese government declined to renew the residence permit for Rosalind Marsden, a senior expert working with the UNITAMS in its peace-building operation. The expert was a former British and EU envoy to Sudan.

The UN political mission said disappointed by the “unfortunate” decision of the Sudanese authorities at the time Khartoum requested UNITAMS to pay more attention to peacebuilding.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the FFC condemned the visa denial for Marsden pointing out that during her long years in Sudan she remained a friend to the Sudanese people and their hopes for peace, freedom and justice.

“Only the forces of darkness fought her,” said the statement alluding to the Sudanese Islamists who welcomed the decision of the military-led government.

This refusal of visa was part of a systematic campaign by the former regime’s officials who are now in command of the October 25 coup government, (…), aimed at terrorizing UNITAMS and restricting its work and mandate,” stressed the FFC.

Last January, a court reinstated some 102 diplomats sacked by the FFC for their close links with the al-Bashir regime.

The coup government use the elements of the former regime to bring Sudan back to the “deep dark ages from which our people were liberated by the glorious December revolution” asserted the statement.

After the coup, the international community suspended the economic and financial aid to Sudan including a debt relief programme.

On Monday, the Biden administration warned U.S. companies of the growing reputational risks of conducting business with “Sudanese State-Owned Enterprises (SOE) and military-controlled companies”.

(ST)