Dubai: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on Saturday explaining that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) expelled most of the staff of the Sudanese Consulate General in Dubai without any reason. The UAE authorities detained the deported diplomats for eight hours after they had completed all departure procedures at Dubai Airport, subjecting them to interrogation and spying on their phones and laptops. This made them miss their flights and forced them to purchase new tickets, in a grave and blatant violation of the Vienna Conventions on Diplomatic and Consular Relations.
According to Sudan News Agency, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in its statement that, “This unprecedented incident demonstrates a gross disregard by the UAE authorities for their obligations under international law, which requires them to protect diplomats and grant them the necessary immunities and privileges. These are the foundation of diplomatic and consular relations and the guarantee that enables diplomats and consular staff to carry out their duties.”
The statement added, “This practice also reflects a desire to harm Sudanese residents in the UAE, contrary to what its authorities claim, as evidenced by the expulsion of officials responsible for consular services, passports, and personal documents of Sudanese nationals, and the violation of their rights and privacy.”