Sudan's Ambassadors Urge Western Governments to Reject 'Coup'

Sudanese protesters in Khartoum denouncing overnight detentions by the army of government members (AFP)
Sudanese protesters in Khartoum denouncing overnight detentions by the army of government members (AFP)
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Sudan's Ambassadors Urge Western Governments to Reject 'Coup'

Sudanese protesters in Khartoum denouncing overnight detentions by the army of government members (AFP)
Sudanese protesters in Khartoum denouncing overnight detentions by the army of government members (AFP)

A statement by a number of Sudanese ambassadors denounced the use of violence against peaceful protests, calling for the release of all detainees and civil officials, namely Prime Minister Abdala Hamdok.

The diplomats call comes as the US governmental and legislative institutions continue to support the popular demands for the return of the civilian rule and the rejection of the military coup.

The US Embassy in Khartoum tweeted a statement expressing its "deep regrets" over the loss of life and injuries of dozens of Sudanese citizens demonstrating for "freedom and democracy" and condemned the "excessive use of force."

The US Agency for International Development (USAID) also expressed its regret at the continued blackout of internet services in Sudan, which marked Monday its third week since the army took power in Sudan against the "will of the people," saying "internet blackout continues for the 22nd day, further exacerbating economic hardships and stifling the rights of free speech and peaceful assembly."

A statement from the "Committee of Sudanese Ambassadors and Diplomats Against the Coup 25" denounced the "unilateral decisions" taken by the country's military leadership by forming a new Sovereignty Council to lead the country, saying, they are "void" in form and content.

The statement, which Asharq Al-Awsat obtained a copy of, demanded the release of the "legitimate" prime minister and all detained prisoners, asserting support to the Sudanese people in their struggle for "freedom, peace, and justice."

"We stand with our Sudanese people" in their protests against the coup to "restore constitutional legitimacy and democratic civil rule in the country."

In their statement, the diplomats, led by the ambassador to Washington Nureldin Satti, warned against violence and bullets during peaceful protests.

They asserted that the right to peaceful demonstration is guaranteed in all national and international constitutions and laws, noting that all previous "marches of millions" were exemplary behavior.

In an interview with the Voice of America (VOA), Satti said he continues to engage with the US administration and Congress to explain the Sudanese position rejecting the coup.

The ambassador asserted that there is overwhelming support to his position and that of his colleagues who have taken the same position.

Satti, who was appointed after Sudan was removed from the list of state sponsors of terrorism in 2019, indicated that he held meetings with the diaspora representatives in the US.

"It was a very good meeting, and we agreed to work together. And I believe that my colleagues also in other embassies, like the one in Brussels, and Paris, Geneva, Beijing, South Africa, and New York are doing the same thing."

The Sudanese ambassador, who was asked by the junta to comply with the new decisions or to resign, declared that he is working with the US officials "to put pressure on the coup perpetrators in order to reverse the action that they have taken, and to take the country back to where it was."

He added that they should accept to "engage wholeheartedly with the civilian component in order to take the country out of this crisis. A military coup has never resolved problems. […] The United States [has] to put pressure on the coup plotters in order to change. We have nothing against the military, but our problem is certain people in the military who do not want this revolution to move forward."

Meanwhile, the regional director of the Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa, Hala al-Karib, said in an article in Newsweek magazine that "innocent and unarmed" Sudanese protesters are again demanding their right to live in a peaceful democracy.

"Once again they paid for their demands with their lives."

She said that one week after the military arrested Hamdok and dissolved the country's civilian leadership, tens of thousands rallied in Khartoum and across the country.

She explained that after the security forces fired tear gas and live rounds at least 11 peaceful demonstrators were killed and over 100 injured.

Karib criticized Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan's thin excuse that the coup was "necessary to maintain stability," noting that he is exposed by his refusal to transfer leadership of the joint sovereign council to civilian control, which is demanded by most Sudanese.

She held Burhan and his deputy Mohamed Hamdan "Hemeti" Dagolo accountable for their historic crimes and threatened their illicit economic networks.

"The latest military coup in Sudan is another attempt to draw the country back into a dark corner. It will ultimately fail."



Zaki to Asharq Al-Awsat: Iraq Played its Part, up to Syria to Determine its Participation at Arab Summit

Assistant Secretary-General of the Arab League Ambassador Hossam Zaki. (Arab League)
Assistant Secretary-General of the Arab League Ambassador Hossam Zaki. (Arab League)
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Zaki to Asharq Al-Awsat: Iraq Played its Part, up to Syria to Determine its Participation at Arab Summit

Assistant Secretary-General of the Arab League Ambassador Hossam Zaki. (Arab League)
Assistant Secretary-General of the Arab League Ambassador Hossam Zaki. (Arab League)

Iraq is hosting on May 17 a regular Arab League summit amid complex regional challenges and crises, including Israel’s war on Gaza, the severing of relations between Sudan and the United Arab Emirates and some parties in Baghdad’s wariness of the new rulers in Syria.

Assistant Secretary-General of the Arab League Ambassador Hossam Zaki told Asharq Al-Awsat that efforts are underway to mend ties between Sudan and the UAE.

He also hailed the Iraqi government’s handling of Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa's participation at the summit given the tensions between the neighbors following the ouster of Bashar al-Assad in December.

The is the second Arab League regular summit that is held amid the war on Gaza, which demands that leaders come up with a “cohesive Arab stance that takes into account the developments of the past months and which adopts Arab principles related to the Palestinian cause,” Zaki said.

Since the last summit, US President Donald Trump unveiled his plan to transform Gaza into the “Riviera of the Middle East,” which was vehemently rejected by Arab states. The countries countered by adopting a reconstruction plan for the enclave that ensures that its people remain in place.

Israel has since reignited the war, complicating peace efforts. “Israel is in control of the situation on the ground, making it difficult to challenge it through any means or decisions,” acknowledged Zaki. “All we have is political and diplomatic work.”

He recognized that political efforts are often doubted and dismissed, but they are actually “very important because they allow the Palestinian cause to remain alive, while the other party tries to kill it.”

“Israel’s attempts to mislead the public and distort facts can only be confronted by political and diplomatic work,” Zaki said. “We must continue to forge ahead along this path and hope that time is on our side.”

Several parties are banking on Washington to wield its influence on Israel to pressure it to stop the war. Zaki revealed that bilateral contacts are being held between Arab countries and the American administration in the hopes of achieving some form of breakthrough.

“It remains to be seen whether these contacts are a success,” he told Asharq Al-Awsat.

Tensions between Sudan and the UAE will also weigh heavily on the Baghdad summit. The Sudanese government announced earlier this month that it was severing ties with Abu Dhabi over its support to the Rapid Support Forces in its war against the military.

Zaki described the situation as “difficult and thorny. It may not impact the overall work of the Arab League, but it will certainly impact discussions about the Sudanese crisis given the differences in positions.”

Efforts are underway to help bridge the gap between Sudan and the UAE, but they have yet to yield the desired results, he revealed.

On Syria, Zaki said the summit is significant because it will be the first since Assad’s ouster.

“Syria is an important country, and it plays a traditional role in Arab affairs. At the same time, however, it is facing several challenges that are threatening its unity,” he noted.

The Arab League had reinstated Syria’s membership in May 2023 after it was suspended in 2011 when the Assad regime violently cracked down on peaceful anti-regime protests.

Sharaa had taken part in an emergency Arab League summit in Cairo in March.

His participation at the Baghdad summit has stirred controversy in Iraq given the strained ties between it and the new rulers in Damascus. Some parties in Iraq have openly opposed his participation.

Zaki said that Iraq, as the host, has fulfilled its duty in inviting Syria to the summit. It is now up to Syria to determine who will represent it at the meeting.

He did not reveal which leaders have confirmed their attendance of the summit, saying that the meeting does not gain importance with who shows up, but with what its outcomes are.

It is important, however, that all countries are represented, he added.