Sudan rejects UK criticism over human rights situation

March 15, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan’s foreign ministry has rejected criticism from the UK of the country’s human rights situation, accusing it of ignoring the major party responsible for the deterioration of that situation.

On Friday, the UK embassy in Khartoum issued a statement saying human rights situation in Sudan remains of deep concern to the UK, pointing there was no overall improvement in 2014 and in some areas the situation deteriorated.

The statement pointed to several factors contributing to the deteriorating human rights situation including the human rights abuses generated by the ongoing conflicts in Darfur, South Kordofan and the Blue Nile, lack of personal freedoms, regular confiscation of newspapers; and the lack of religious freedom.

“The government of Sudan was the main perpetrator of these abuses, and its unwillingness to reform is a key hurdle to overcome in order to address these concerns,” the statement read.

All this “was highlighted by the lack of progress around key recommendations made by the UN Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Sudan in his report to the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) in September,” it added.

The spokesperson of Sudan’s foreign ministry, Ali al-Sadiq, attributed deterioration in all aspects of life in Sudan including human rights situation to the economic sanctions imposed on the country.

He said in press statements on Sunday his government does not claim that human rights situation in the country is at its best, adding critics should have blamed those responsible for the situation.

Washington imposed economic and trade sanctions on Sudan in 1997 in response to its alleged connection to terror networks and human rights abuses. In 2007 it strengthened the embargo, citing abuses in Darfur which it labelled as genocide.

Al-Sadiq underscored the Sudanese government is making every possible effort to improve human rights situation, pointing to its cooperation with the (HRC).

(ST)