By Enyichukwu Enemanna
The United States has alleged that Russia is providing financial and logistical support to the two warring parties in Sudan, escalating earlier accusations that Moscow is playing both sides of the conflict to achieve political objectives without giving further details.
“Russia chose obstruction: standing alone as it voted to imperil civilians, while funding both sides of the conflict – yes, that’s what I said: both sides,” U.S. Ambassador to the U.N., Linda Thomas-Greenfield, told a U.N. Council meeting on Monday.
The war broke out in April 2023 following a power struggle between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) ahead of a planned transition to civilian rule.
Millions of people have been displaced since the war erupted, triggering what has now become the largest displacement and hunger crisis in the world.
In November, Russia vetoed a U.N. Security Council draft resolution that called on the warring parties to immediately cease fire and ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid.
A spokesperson for the U.S. mission to the U.N., while elaborating further, said Washington was aware of Russia’s “ongoing interest in Sudan’s gold trade” and condemned any material support for the warring parties – “whether it be through illicit gold trading or the provision of military equipment.”
“We believe Sudanese authorities’ gold mining cooperation with sanctioned Russian entities and individuals could prove inimical to Sudan’s long-term interests and the aspirations of the Sudanese people for an end to the war,” the U.S. mission to the U.N. spokesperson said.
Moscow denied the allegations. Russia’s Deputy U.N. Ambassador Dmitry Polyanskiy said: “We regret that the U.S. tries to judge other world powers by its own yardstick.”
“It’s obvious that in the Pax Americana, which our American colleagues try to preserve at any price, relations with other countries are built only on their exploitation and criminal schemes aimed at U.S. enrichment,” he said.
Russia’s Ambassador to the U.N., Vassily Nebenzia, had in December rejected what he called “fabrications spread by Western countries and their media” claiming Moscow was trying to play both sides to gain an advantage from the war.
At what she said would likely be her last council meeting, Thomas-Greenfield became visibly emotional while addressing her counterparts on Sudan, a crisis that has been a focus during her four years at the world body.
Thomas-Greenfield was appointed by President Joe Biden. Donald Trump will succeed Biden on 20 January.
The army and RSF had jointly staged a coup in 2021, but a power struggle between their commanders plunged the country into civil war 20 months ago.
Repeated efforts to broker peace between the warring parties have yielded no results.
Sudanese army chief and the country’s de facto leader, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, said his government would not join in peace talks with the rival paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, instead stating he is ready to “fight for 100 years.”
