Sudan: Sudan's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Al-Harith Idris, has expressed gratitude towards nations that have backed Sudan's stance against broadening the arms embargo to encompass the entire Sudanese territory, advocating instead for a technical renewal of Resolution 1591.
According to Sudan News Agency, Ambassador Al-Harith, during a UN Security Council session, highlighted that the proposed arms embargo contradicts Article 51 of the UN Charter, which ensures the right to individual and collective self-defense for Member States. He emphasized that this right is crucial for the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and affiliated forces defending the nation and warding off aggression. The ambassador asserted that Sudan has the right to acquire, produce, and possess conventional weapons essential for defending its sovereignty and safeguarding its territory.
He further elaborated that the ongoing conflict and resultant security challenges have hindered the state's ability to monitor weapon movements or assess their distribution within its borders due to the presence of numerous armed groups and mercenaries. The ambassador criticized the international community for not supporting efforts to disarm and integrate armed groups post the Juba Peace Agreement in October 2020, pointing out that the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia had delayed integrating its forces into the national army.
Ambassador Al-Harith warned that the proposed resolution could empower armed groups operating outside government control while limiting the armed forces' capabilities, potentially escalating cross-border arms smuggling in Sudan and neighboring regions. He also raised concerns about ongoing weapon inflows and drone attacks from neighboring territories, bolstering external actors that support the RSF militia.
He noted that experts have confirmed the arms embargo's adverse impact on the state's efforts to regain territorial control and its right to self-defense. Despite these challenges, Sudan remains committed to adhering to international law, even as armed groups outside state control continue to access weapons, leading to an imbalance and enabling these groups to amass arsenals.
Sudan's UN Envoy urged for a balanced strategy that upholds the state's right to self-defense while curbing weapon flows to armed groups, which would aid in stabilizing Sudan and protecting its sovereignty and territorial integrity.