The United States accused Russia at the United Nations on Monday of financing the two warring sides in Sudan, a step forward from Washington’s previous assertion that Moscow was playing both sides of the conflict to advance its political goals. .
The war broke out in April 2023 as part of a power struggle between the Sudanese armed forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) ahead of a planned transition to civilian rule, triggering the largest crisis of displacement and famine in the world.
In November, Russia vetoed a draft United Nations Security Council resolution that called on the warring parties to immediately cease hostilities and ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid. The other 14 members of the Council voted in favor of the text.
“Russia chose obstruction: it stood alone as it voted to endanger civilians, while funding both sides of the conflict – yes, that’s what I said: both sides “, declared the United States Ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, before the Council on Monday, without giving further details.
Asked about this, a spokesperson for the US mission to the UN said that Washington was aware of “Russia’s continued interest in the gold trade in Sudan” and that it condemned any support material to the warring parties, “whether through the illicit gold trade or the supply of military equipment”.
“We believe that the cooperation of Sudanese authorities in the field of gold mining with sanctioned Russian entities and individuals could prove detrimental to the long-term interests of Sudan and the aspirations of the Sudanese people to end war,” said the spokesperson for the American mission to the UN.
Russia’s deputy ambassador to the UN, Dmitry Polyanskiy, reacted by saying: “We regret that the United States has decided to end the war against Sudan: “We regret that the United States is trying to judge other world powers by their own standards.
“It is obvious that in the Pax Americana that our American colleagues are trying to preserve at all costs, relations with other countries are based only on their exploitation and on criminal projects aimed at the enrichment of the United States,” he said. he added.
Reuters was not immediately able to contact Sudan’s warring parties for comment.
In December, Russian Ambassador to the UN Vassily Nebenzia rejected what he called “fabrications spread by Western countries and their media” that Moscow was trying to have it both ways to gain advantage from the war.
In what she said was likely to be her last Council meeting, Thomas-Greenfield appeared visibly emotional as she addressed her counterparts about Sudan, a crisis that has been at the forefront of her mind over the past few years. of his four years spent within the global organization.
“Despite the disappointment of not having been able to do more, of not having been able to do more, I remain hopeful,” she said. “I hope that the representatives sitting around this table – the colleagues who have become friends – will continue this sacred mission, this ultimate responsibility.
Ms. Thomas-Greenfield was nominated by President Joe Biden. Donald Trump will succeed him on January 20.
