Sudan expels two British Embassy bodyguards over parking row
October 5, 2008 (KHARTOUM) — Sudanese government has expelled two bodyguards from the British Embassy in Khartoum after they injured Sudanese security personal working in the U.N. Mission in Sudan headquarters.
On 27 August, the security officers, driving a British embassy vehicle, hit the Sudanese workers while they maneuvering to park it inside the UNMIS headquarters. The British say it was an incident but the Sudanese reject this version saying they intentionally hurt them because the bodyguards had insisted to park their vehicle in a reserved place.
The pro-ruling party media dealt with this altercation as a national issue against the colonial power. The UNMIS said it had investigated the incident and concluded that “the Embassy driver and close protection officer were in the wrong when refusing to comply with parking instructions that were provided to them by UNMIS security officers.”
Ali Yousef, director of protocol at the foreign ministry said Sudan considers what the two British employs did as unacceptable and asked their departure from the country. “. We asked the British embassy for them to leave the country – in a very polite way. We gave them 72 hours and they left.”
The Sudanese official further added both British guards, who are not diplomats, were already back in London after being ordered out before the start of Eid celebrations last week to mark the end of the Muslim Ramadan fast.
He also underlined that the expulsion would not harm the bilateral relations between the two countries.
“It is not political. It has nothing to do with our bilateral relations. Our relationship with Great Britain is great,” Yousef said.
However, in London the Foreign Office confirmed the departure of the two British bodyguards but he said that they left Sudan as part of a routine movement.
“We were given formal notice that we should consider them expelled but we agreed that this should not affect bilateral relations,” said the Foreign Office spokesperson.
(ST)
John Mou
Sudan expels two British Embassy bodyguards over parking row
Expulsion is not a solution to this case. Punishment should have taken place before expulsion because the injured are not only Sudanese nationals but UN staff members who were performing their duties as required by the mission.
Our leaders in Khartoum led by Al-Bashir know how to defend themselves and not their citizens. That is why the British Embassy in Khartoum has used that chance to describe the intentionally act against the two Sudanese nationals as an incident and manage to take their citizens back to London unpunished.
Mr Point
Sudan expels two British Embassy bodyguards over parking row
Our leaders in Khartoum led by Al-Bashir know how to defend themselves and not their citizens.
It is never happens that a foreign power attacks inside Sudan.
Because of “national sovereignty” Sudanese citizens are in danger from only the Sudanese government.