Sudan joins Islamic alliance against terrorism
December 15, 2015 (KHARTOUM) – The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on Tuesday announced the formation of an alliance of 34 Moslem countries against terror that includes Sudan.
It said a centre for joint operations will be set up in Riyadh “to coordinate and support military action against terror and to promote the necessary programmes and mechanisms for that purpose.’’
The statement said the formation of the alliance “was based on the Islamic Cooperation Organization’s agreement on the fight against all sorts of terror .’’
“The alliance will seek to protect the Moslem nation from the malice of all armed terror groups and organizations that wreak havoc and terrorize peaceful communities,” further says the text.
It was noticed that Iran, Saudi Arabia’s bitter rival for influence in the Arab World, was not included in the list of the alliance member states.
Saudi Arabia and Iran are involved in a proxy war in Yemen and Syria.
The US had been increasingly talking about the need for the Gulf states to do more against the group of Islamic State in Syria and Iraq (widely known by the Arabic acronym DAESH).
In a rare press conference held in Riyadh , Deputy Crown Prince and Defence Minister Mohamed bin Salman who is also the King’s son said, Tuesday, the newly formed military alliance will coordinate effort for fighting terror in Iraq, Syria, Libya, Egypt and Afghanistan .
The alliance does not include Iraq and Syria, whose governments are backed by Tehran and where Daesh has proclaimed its state.
Salman , however, did not give any indications on how military effort will be made.
But he said there will be coordination with all international organizations and the World’s important countries in this action.
“As for Syria and Iraq we cannot conduct operations without coordination with the legitimate government’s therein and with the international community,’’ he said, in reply to a question.
Alliance member states are :Saudi Arabia, Jordan , the U.A.E, Pakistan, Bahrain, Bangladish, Benin, Chad, Togo, Turkey ,Tunisia, Djibouti, Senegal , Sudan, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Gabon, Guinea, Palestine, the Commoros, Qatar, Ivory Coast, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, the Maldives, Mali , Malaysia ,Egypt, Morocco, Mauritania, the Niger, Nigeria and Yemen.
Ten other countries Islamic states , including Indonesia, had voiced support for the alliance .
In Khartoum, Sudanese government did not issue a statement on the new Saudi-led military alliance. Sudanese troops are already fighting along the Saudi army in Yemen since several months.
(ST)