Nesrine Malik rightly highlights that the United Arab Emirates “is the single biggest player in Sudan’s war” (We ignore Sudan at our peril. This campaign of mass murder and rape will have global consequences, 13 January). However, I must take issue with the implicit suggestion in her article that there is political and legal parity between the genocidal Rapid Support Forces militia (the Janjaweed rebranded) and the Sudanese army.
Since the war erupted, Sudanese people have repeatedly made clear that the army is not only their saviour and protector from the RSF but also the embodiment of their nationhood. This is demonstrated by the fact that those fleeing the militia’s massacres and atrocities seek safety in areas where the army is present. The notion of “external patrons” with respect to the army is therefore misplaced.
The UN charter obligates the international community to support member states in protecting their sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the welfare of their people, particularly when these are threatened by external rogue actors.
The only viable option for the global community to prevent anarchy in Sudan is to support its army to quell the RSF and re-establish security, peace and order. This of course entails ensuring that the RSF’s external sponsor stops supplying it with weapons and mercenaries.
Fortunately, the army is making significant and steady advances, having liberated the states of Sennar and al-Gazira, and more than 70% of Khartoum, while holding firm to its positions in Darfur and Kordofan. The rest of the country’s 18 states are already under its control. Contrary to the claim that “Sudan has effectively collapsed into anarchy and fragmented fiefdoms”, the nation retains a functioning state apparatus in most parts of the country.
Finally, Malik’s article says gold is being “smuggled out by both the army and the RSF in return for weapons and cash”. In fact such smuggling is being done only by the RSF, and law-enforcing authorities are doing their best to combat it.
Babikir Elamin
Head of mission, Embassy of the Republic of Sudan, London
