A Strange Call… The UAE Urges an Immediate Ceasefire in Sudan

The Diplomatic Adviser to the President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Anwar Gargash, called for a ceasefire in Sudan, claiming that his country seeks to see Sudan’s future in a civilian transition.

Speaking during a panel session at the Reuters Next Gulf Summit in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday, Gargash attempted to justify his country’s stance regarding the accusations leveled against the UAE over its role in Sudan. He said: “I believe that if we want to play a constructive role in the region, we have to rely on facts. As for the accusations directed at us, we have seen similar ones in Yemen and also in our support for the Palestinian people in Gaza. The claims that our humanitarian role serves as a cover for other agendas are nothing new to us.”

He continued:> “You must make a choice: if you want to play a negative role in the region, then you can protect yourself from these kinds of accusations. But if you want to play a positive and influential role in shaping the region’s dynamics, such accusations will inevitably be thrown at you.”

Gargash said that Sudan currently does not allow the UAE to play the humanitarian role it plays in Gaza, but he expressed his country’s readiness to step up its efforts once permitted to do so.

He went on to say:> “Our role is part of the work of the Quartet group (the United States, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the UAE), and we are calling for an immediate ceasefire and for increased humanitarian support. More importantly, we do not see Sudan’s future as a military one, but rather in a civilian transition.”