EU Says Considering Imposing New Sanctions on Individuals in Sudan

Dr. Annette Weber, European Union envoy to the Horn of Africa, speaks to Asharq Al-Awsat. (Photo by: Bashir Saleh)

Dr. Annette Weber, European Union Special Envoy to the Horn of Africa, said that 24 percent of the population in Sudan has entered the stage of famine, warning that the country will slide into a Syrian or Somali scenario if talks are not resumed.
In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Weber revealed that the European Union is currently preparing a new set of sanctions against individuals, after it had imposed sanctions on some parties to the conflict last year.
The EU envoy stressed that the Jeddah Platform for the Sudanese talks is the main platform for all ongoing efforts, calling for the immediate resumption of these meetings.
She said that returning to the Jeddah talks between the Sudanese parties is more urgent now than ever before, and that if talks are not launched as quickly as possible, “I think we will not get anywhere. I am less optimistic,” she said.
According to the Declaration of Principles in Paris – Weber said - any expansion of efforts, whether from the United States, the African Union, or from neighbors such as Egypt or the UAE, “must take place in Jeddah [...].”
Weber warned that Sudan “may slide into scenarios of civil war in Syria... or Somalia in 1991.”
She added that if no agreement is reached soon, the country could be dragged into civil war, noting that “the entire region will suffer.”
The EU special representative spoke of a “new package” of sanctions that will affect individuals during the coming period as a result of the ongoing violations and war crimes.
In this regard, she said that the first set of sanctions last year were against some parties that finance the war in Sudan and contribute to its prolongation, “the second package we are working on now will affect individuals.”
Weber acknowledged the presence of external parties that support the continuation of the war in Sudan.
She told Asharq Al-Awsat that “as in every war, there are external parties... A large number of parties provide support. I don’t want to talk in detail about who provides what kind of weapons, but there are different parties that support both sides...”
The EU diplomat explained that the European Union is focused on addressing the man-made humanitarian crisis, as she put it.
She added: “This is a man-made disaster. There are two leaders who launched a war against the people. This is our first concern, and we are trying to provide 3 billion euros in support. We are also trying to unite civilians and prepare them to enter the civil transition phase. After the ceasefire, there must be a civilian government.”
The European envoy to the Horn of Africa expressed her hope that the various meetings of the Sudanese parties would succeed in holding dialogue and ending the war.
Commenting on some accusations by Sudanese parties that the EU is taking a biased stance in the crisis, she said: “We need to protect the Sudanese people”, assuring that the EU does not stand with any of the parties. “We would like to support Sudan and the civilian transitional government.”