Military support to Sudan is an explicit blessing for Crimes against Humanity.
By Hussien Arko Menawi.
For more than two decades the common spirit between Sudan and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has never exceeded the limits of a shrinking Economic and Cultural relation and shaky Diplomatic ties. The apex of tension between the two countries was at the time of the Gulf turmoil, when Sudan had missed the access of harvesting fruit of the Gulf Geopolitics Conflict and instead supported Iraq for its crimes in Kuwait, and since then Sudan kept begging for military support at regional level from Iraq and Iran or internationally from China and Russia to counter the internal peripheral wars of the Sudan.
The recent developments in the volatile Middle East is likely to make a very big change by creating a new equation in the region . Russia has become a fresh key player in the Middle East against Saudi interests while Iran is gaining further ground in the region after the International Community has lifted the sanctions from the Islamic Republic in exchange for freezing its nuclear program. This development is not only a nightmare to Saudi Arabia but it also going to make a very negative impact on the prospective peace process in Sudan.
Sudan Tribune and some local newspapers in Sudan have disclosed a short visit of Saudi Arabia Foreign Minister to Khartoum on Feb 22 . Though the visit was the first in its kind by a high- ranking Saudi official to Sudan since long time, it seems a highly confidential visit and presumably ended up with serious security deals. Yet no sufficient evidence that can materialise the size of the military deal been concluded between the two countries other than the information leaked by Sudan Tribune and local media in Khartoum about a military deal of multi billion dollars. But, what confirms such a deal is that, the recent Military rapprochement between the two States following the declaration of war on Houthi fighters in Yemen made the Kingdom pump a considerable amount of dollars to the Sudan Treasury, it is likely earmarked for Sudanese Soldiers fighting in Yemen with Saudi forces.
The security situation of each of the two countries is exceptionally critical, Sudan already crippled for a long time by internal wars? and since long time also in Saudi Arabia fears started growing about the regional ambitions of the Islamic Republic of Iran to extent that the ruling family in the Kingdom began feeling as if the noose is tightening round their necks due to the strong presence of Iranian influence around the Kingdom in Yemen, Bahrain, Iraq, Lebanon and Syria as well as the explicit Russian intervention in the Middle East conflict in favor of Bashar Al Asad Regime in Syria.
Saudi Arabia has the money and large military Arsenal but in desperate need of some one who provides it with men to fight on its behalf , while Sudan is in dire need of money and weapons, willing to exchange men from Sudan for money to fight as mercenaries for the Saudi Arabia. Ironically, it was chance alone did bring the interests of the two regimes together, but unfortunately this will be at the expense of already the war torn civilians in Darfur, Nuba Mountains and Blue Nile.
In this atmosphere of tension, Saudi Arabia began knocking every door in search of allies who can back it up in its adversity, and at the same time Sudan was very keen not to miss this golden opportunity again. Whatever desires of the two countries to achieve their objectives, if such a deal is completed it will be a real threat to International peace and security and it is a moral obligation to the International community not to turn a blind eye to the bitter reality of Khartoum? connection to military support of some countries. Saudi Arabia is also quite aware the risk of supplying Sudan with military aid, because the Kingdom for a quite long time been close to the efforts of regional and international bodies to bring to an end the violations committed against humanity in Darfur and other war affected areas in Sudan.
The war in Darfur and other areas on the margin of Sudan has already claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands and more than two millions were displaced. It is the longest war of genocide that cost human lives and cost a lot the International community as well to put it to an end, yet no a glimmer of hope for achieving peace in Sudan in foreseeable future if some members of the International community continue providing military support to sudan, this surely increases Khartoum? appetite to kill more civilians rather than encourages it to sign any peace deal. In spite of numerous UN Security Council resolutions banning military support to Sudan, the flow of weapons to Sudan is in increase especially from China and Russia and that is why the Regime in Khartoum is insisting on military solution and no doubt the new position of Saudi Arabia will exacerbate the situation if it decided to back up Sudan militarily by such big money.
In the period between 2005 to 2016 the UN Security Council issued at least 13 resolutions on Darfur conflict in attempt to reach to a peaceful settlement in the region, the latest of which is the resolution NO 2265 of 15/02/2016, which provides on the control of weapons in Sudan in accordance with Chapter 7 of the charter of the United Nations. So as not to prolong the war in Darfur, it’s the responsibility of the Security Council to fully apply this resolution against the States that want to support Sudan militarily.
The author can be reached at [email protected]