Sudan Accuses UAE of Expelling, Spying, and Detaining Diplomats

The Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the United Arab Emirates’ authorities expelled most of the officials from the Consulate General in Dubai and treated them in an inappropriate manner, including detention, search, and interrogation.

The Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, in a statement on Saturday, that “the Emirati authorities issued a decision in the past few days to expel most of the staff of the Sudanese Consulate General in Dubai, without any reason.”

The statement pointed out that the UAE violated the Vienna Conventions governing diplomatic and consular relations by detaining the expelled diplomats for eight hours after they had completed all departure procedures at Dubai Airport.

The statement also described the diplomats being subjected to interrogation and “spying on their phones and laptops,” causing them to miss their flights and forcing them to purchase new tickets.

The Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs considered the Emirati action a gross disregard for the obligations guaranteed by international law, which requires the UAE to protect diplomats and grant them the necessary immunities and privileges.

It added, “This practice reflects a desire to harm Sudanese residents in the UAE, contrary to what its authorities claim, as evidenced by its expulsion of officials responsible for consular services, passports, and personal documents for Sudanese citizens, violating their rights and privacy.”