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Sudan Accuses UK of Obstructing UN Session to Deliberate 'Complaint Against UAE'

Permanent Representative of Sudan to the United Nations, Al-Harith Idriss (AP)
Permanent Representative of Sudan to the United Nations, Al-Harith Idriss (AP)
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Sudan Accuses UK of Obstructing UN Session to Deliberate 'Complaint Against UAE'

Permanent Representative of Sudan to the United Nations, Al-Harith Idriss (AP)
Permanent Representative of Sudan to the United Nations, Al-Harith Idriss (AP)

The Sudanese Foreign Ministry on Tuesday strongly protested Britain’s intervention at the UN Security Council, saying the UK delayed discussion on Sudan's complaint against UAE and changed the meeting format to closed consultations making participation by non-member states like Sudan no longer allowed.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs regrets that the UK disregarded its moral and political responsibility as a permanent member of the Security Council,” the Ministry said in a statement.
It added that the UK position came in pursuit of its commercial interests with the Emirates, making it complacent in the atrocities committed by the terrorist militias and its main sponsor, as well as an advocate of impunity.
On April 26, Permanent Representative of Sudan to the United Nations, Al-Harith Idriss, requested an emergency Security Council meeting on what he called UAE “aggression” against his country. The meeting was scheduled for Monday, April 29. However, the UK intervened to alter the meeting's agenda and format, transforming it to closed consultations, and preventing Idriss from attending.
During the closed consultations, UN member states demanded that the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan cease hostilities around Al-Fashir, the capital of Sudan’s North Darfur, and commit to not attacking any city.
They, further, urged regional states to abide by the UNSC Resolution 1591's Darfur arms embargo.
They equally advocated for the resumption of the Jeddah talks, unhindered access to humanitarian aid, and adherence to international humanitarian law. The meeting did not discuss Sudan’s complaint against the Emirates. It only echoed the Council’s statement made on April 27.
On Tuesday, the Sudanese Foreign Ministry described the British intervention at the Security as a “disgraceful move.”
It also criticized the “leniency” exhibited by the Western permanent members of the Security Council to the militia's atrocities and its “sponsor”, the UAE.
“Sudan will use all available means and avenues to safeguard its people, sovereignty, and dignity,” the Ministry statement affirmed.
“The Security Council's credibility and ability to carry out its responsibility in maintaining international peace and security while upholding the values and ideals of the United Nations Charter is currently seriously tested,” it added.

 

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Demarcating the Lebanese–Syrian Border Tops Agenda of Trump’s Envoy in Beirut

Talks between Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and US envoy Thomas Barrack two weeks ago in Beirut (AP). 
Talks between Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and US envoy Thomas Barrack two weeks ago in Beirut (AP). 
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Demarcating the Lebanese–Syrian Border Tops Agenda of Trump’s Envoy in Beirut

Talks between Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and US envoy Thomas Barrack two weeks ago in Beirut (AP). 
Talks between Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and US envoy Thomas Barrack two weeks ago in Beirut (AP). 

US Ambassador to Türkiye Tom Barrack, President Donald Trump’s special envoy to Syria, is prioritizing the demarcation of the Lebanese–Syrian border during his meetings in Beirut this week with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, and Army leadership.

The border issue is expected to feature prominently in Lebanon’s response to proposals Barrack presented, as he considers it essential for establishing a mechanism to implement the ceasefire agreement with Israel and asserting Lebanese sovereignty under UN Resolution 1701.

According to Lebanese ministerial sources speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, Saudi Arabia recently hosted a Lebanese–Syrian meeting that defused tensions and ended clashes across the overlapping areas between the two countries in northern Bekaa. Riyadh’s mediation created a favorable climate to advance border demarcation along the roughly 375-kilometer frontier from north to east.

Saudi sponsorship of this process, along with measures by the joint Lebanese–Syrian committee to prevent further clashes, strengthened Washington’s interest in supporting these efforts. Much of the violence has stemmed from rival smuggling networks once protected by the former Syrian regime and used for trafficking Captagon into Lebanon and beyond.

Calls to demarcate the border date back to the National Dialogue Committee’s first session in 2006, convened by Berri. At Hezbollah’s request, the term “demarcation” was replaced with “delineation,” arguing it was more appropriate for relations between “brotherly nations.” Nevertheless, the issue remained unresolved as Syria refused to engage in formal negotiations, especially before the assassination of Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, when Damascus consistently blocked references to completing the Taif Agreement or withdrawing Syrian troops from Beirut.

Later attempts during Saad Hariri’s premiership under President Michel Sleiman also stalled when President Bashar al-Assad declined to cooperate, citing other priorities. Illegal crossings continued to proliferate, justified as necessary for Hezbollah’s movement to avoid Israeli monitoring and to maintain unregulated “military routes” for arms smuggling.

Sources revealed that in a Damascus meeting co-chaired by Hariri and Assad, Lebanon requested not only border demarcation but also a review of bilateral agreements under the Treaty of Brotherhood to address their pro-Syrian bias. While the status of the occupied Shebaa Farms was briefly raised, it was withdrawn to avoid jeopardizing talks. Though an agreement was reached to start demarcation from the northern border, Syrian officials later backed out, citing preoccupation with the Jordanian border.

Lebanon has since prepared a detailed file with maps and coordinates, ready to support renewed negotiations under President Ahmad al-Sharaa. Officials believe the time is now ripe to demarcate the border and end agreements that once facilitated Syria’s dominance over Lebanon.