In a move that has drawn strong condemnation from both the UK and the US, Russia vetoed a draft resolution at the UN Security Council calling for a ceasefire in Sudan.
British Foreign Secretary David Lammy described the veto as a “disgrace,” but Russia countered by accusing the UK of interfering in Sudanese affairs without involving the country itself.
The ongoing civil war in Sudan, which has lasted 19 months, is estimated to have resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and displaced over 11 million people. Aid workers are warning that the conflict has led to one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world, with many at risk of famine. Sudanese activists have criticized the UN for its slow response to the escalating violence.
The conflict erupted in April 2022 when the Sudanese army and the powerful paramilitary group, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), commenced a brutal power struggle.
The draft resolution, proposed by the UK and Sierra Leone, called for an immediate halt to hostilities and the initiation of negotiations for a national ceasefire. It also urged the army and RSF to honor prior agreements to protect civilians, specifically mentioning RSF assaults in the Darfur region and other areas.
Sudan’s representative to the UN indicated that requested clauses were omitted from the draft. While all 14 other Security Council member states supported the resolution, Russia’s veto prevented its passage.
“This Russian veto is a disgrace and shows the world Russia’s true colors,” Lammy declared during the meeting in New York. He challenged the Russian representative, questioning how many more Sudanese lives must be lost before action is taken.
US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield voiced similar frustrations, accusing Russia of obstructing efforts to address the dire situation in Sudan while advancing its own political objectives at the expense of Sudanese lives.
In response, Russia’s UN representative, Dmitry Polyanskiy, claimed that Sudanese sovereignty was being disregarded, accusing the UK of trying to meddle in Sudan’s affairs. He expressed outrage on social media at the UK’s push for the resolution, stating that it exacerbated the crisis.
Following the discussions at the Security Council, Sudan’s ambassador, Al-Harith Idriss al-Harith Mohamed, noted that important “prerequisites” were excluded from the draft. He wanted a clause condemning the United Arab Emirates for its alleged support of the RSF, which the UAE has denied, as well as a designation of the RSF as “terrorists” for allegedly waging a war of extermination against civilians.
Both the Sudanese army and the RSF have faced accusations of human rights violations that could constitute war crimes.
