Sudan’s Humanitarian Aid Commissioner criticized UN and AU officials for attending a UAE-based meeting addressing Sudan’s crisis, labeling their presence as disgraceful. The UAE’s role in supporting RSF, tied to numerous humanitarian abuses, was emphasized. Biniya urged global leaders to prioritize the needs of Sudanese people without politicizing aid efforts, condemning the ongoing humanitarian disaster following the 2023 conflict between military factions.
On February 14, 2025, Sudan’s Humanitarian Aid Commissioner, Salwa Adam Biniya, criticized UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and African Union Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki for their attendance at a UAE-sponsored meeting focused on Sudan’s humanitarian crisis. The meeting occurred during the African Union summit in Addis Ababa, which Biniya deemed “shameful and disgraceful.”
This significant conference featured key global and regional leaders, including Kenyan President William Ruto and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, alongside former Sudanese Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok. The UAE pledged $200 million in aid for Sudan during this meeting.
Biniya contended that the gathering served as a strategy for the UAE to enhance its international image while obscuring its alleged crimes in Sudan, notably its support for the controversial Rapid Support Forces (RSF). She pointed out the UAE’s complicity in the humanitarian crisis unfolding from the violence inflicted by the RSF.
The commissioner highlighted that the RSF is responsible for numerous atrocities, including attacks on healthcare facilities, forced displacements, systematic sexual violence, and looting humanitarian aid depots. Biniya directly implicated the UAE by stating it exacerbates the conflict through sustained financial and military support for the RSF, making it an accomplice in the violence against Sudan.
She called upon the UN and AU leaders to advocate for the Sudanese populace by pressuring the UAE to withdraw its support for the RSF. Moreover, Biniya urged the international community to avoid politicizing humanitarian efforts in Sudan, insisting that aid be provided impartially to those in desperate need.
The ongoing conflict in Sudan, which ignited in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF, has resulted in a dire humanitarian emergency, displacing millions and necessitating urgent international assistance.
In summary, Biniya’s statements highlight the perceived complicity of global leaders in humanitarian crises through their affiliations with states like the UAE, which allegedly exacerbate conditions in Sudan. Her calls for focused humanitarian aid without political undertones emphasize the need for immediate action in response to the ongoing conflict. The criticism of high-profile participation at the UAE meeting reflects deeper concerns about genuine support for Sudanese citizens amidst this turmoil.
Original Source: sudantribune.com
