U.S. official condemns Hemetti’s visit to Russia

June 25, 2022 (KHARTOUM) – A U.S. diplomat strongly criticised a visit by the deputy head of the military-led Sovereign Council to Russia last February saying t was against the Sudanese people’s desire for peace and freedom.

Hemetti visit’s to Moscow coincided with the launch of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24. The visiting Sudanese official stated that Moscow has the right to defend its nationals in the Ukrainian separatist regions.

“The decision by General Hemetti to visit Moscow at a time where Putin was clearly planning an invasion of a neighbouring state was very poor frankly,” he told Al-Hurra TV on Friday evening.

Hunt added that such a decision was inconsonant with Sudanese desire in terms of democracy, peace and freedom either at home or abroad.

“So I would urge all of Sudan’s leaders as they are look to decide how to engage with foreign countries to keep on the forefront of their views what the Sudanese people are asking for which is peace, freedom, democracy,” he stressed.

U.S. and allied western countries have imposed heavy sanctions on Russia after its invasion of Ukraine.

Also, Washington has now committed near $7 billion in military assistance to Ukraine since the election of the Biden Administration, including approximately $6.1 billion since the beginning of the Russian attack.

The head of the Sudan office at the State Department said that Russian activities in Africa are designed to impoverish African states and “are not in keeping with the aspirations of the Sudanese people”.

He advised avoiding any assistance that Russia offers particularly through private military companies like Wagner stressing that “countries engaged with these entities find themselves more improvised and less secure”.

However, the U.S. official did not speak about the cooperation of Rapid Support Forces and the Russian private paramilitary organization.

(ST)