Ambassador Ali Al-Sadiq Ali, the Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, led the Sudanese delegation at the 19th Ministerial Meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement, held in Kampala, Uganda, from January 17 to 18, 2024. This meeting is part of the preparations for the 19th Summit of the Movement, which will take place in Kampala on January 19-20, 2024, under the theme: Deepening Cooperation for Shared Global Prosperity.
In his statement at the Ministerial Meeting, the Minister addressed the role of the Sudanese Armed Forces in their fight against the rebel militias, supported by mercenaries and some regional countries with malicious agendas. He listed the heinous violations committed by the militia, including murder, looting, displacement, torture, and rape, which many organizations and institutions have described as genocide, particularly in the Darfur region. The direct targeting of civilians by these militias was also highlighted.
The Minister emphasized the Sudanese government’s desire for a peaceful solution through serious negotiations and openness to all initiatives to end the war and return life to normal, resuming the democratic path. However, the militia’s lack of commitment to their various pledges, particularly the Jeddah Declaration of Principles, has been a fundamental factor in the failure of all initiatives.
The Minister informed the meeting about Sudan’s decision to suspend dealings with the IGAD regarding the peace file, due to the organization’s transgressions in handling the current crisis in Sudan.
He concluded his speech by reaffirming Sudan’s commitment to the principles of the Movement and the collective action that serves to achieve its founders’ goals.
The war in Sudan, which escalated in April 2023, has resulted in significant casualties and displacements. It began as a conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), led by Lieutenant General Abdel-Fattah Al-Burhan, and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), led by Lieutenant General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo. The fighting concentrated around Khartoum and the Darfur region, leading to over 12,000 deaths and 33,000 injuries by December 2023. More than 5.8 million people were internally displaced, and over 1.5 million fled the country.
