Sudan announced today, Sunday, the expulsion of four Chadian diplomats from its territory in response to a similar move by Chad. A Sudanese Foreign Ministry official, in a statement to Saudi Arabian news channel Al Sharq, mentioned, “The expelled diplomats include the embassy’s First Counselor, the Military Attaché, the Consul, and his deputy.”
The official pointed out that Khartoum rejected Chad’s request for an apology over statements made by the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Sudanese Armed Forces, Yasser Al-Atta.
This decision follows the notification by the Chadian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Expatriates, and International Cooperation on Saturday to the Sudanese Embassy in N’Djamena. The Chadian government labeled four Sudanese diplomats working in Chad as ‘persona non grata,’ giving them 72 hours to leave the country, as reported by the Sudanese newspaper “Al Rakoba.”
The four Sudanese diplomats are the embassy’s First Counselor Mukhtar Bilal Abdel Salam Al Abbas, Military Attaché Abdel Rahim Al Awad Al Toum, Consul in N’Djamena Haj Abdullah Al Haj Ahmed, and Deputy Consul General in Abéché, Mohamed Al Haj Bakheit Farah.
The Chadian Foreign Ministry, in a statement signed by the government spokesperson, said, “The decision to expel the Sudanese diplomats was in response to the statements of Yasser Al-Atta, who accused Chad of intervening in the internal Sudanese conflict.” The ministry described his statements as “baseless.”
The ministry further noted that “such accusations were surprisingly repeated by the Sudanese Foreign Minister, Ali Al-Sadiq, on a local television channel.” It emphasized that “the repetition of such statements by the Sudanese authorities regarding Chad and its government is simply unacceptable and hostile, covering a hidden agenda.”
The Chadian Foreign Ministry indicated that “this action comes after Chad expressed its astonishment, submitted sharp protests, and sought clarification regarding Yasser Al-Atta’s statements,” reaffirming its great respect for the diplomatic mission of Sudan in N’Djamena.
Last week, the acting Sudanese Foreign Minister, Ali Al-Sadiq, announced that Khartoum would not apologize for Yasser Al-Atta’s statements regarding Chad’s role in supplying the ‘Rapid Support Forces.’
According to the “Sudan Tribune” newspaper, Al-Sadiq confirmed that the Sudanese Embassy in N’Djamena and the Consulate in Abéché had provided the Chadian authorities with all evidence, including satellite images and aerial photography, proving Chad’s logistical support to the ‘Rapid Support Forces.’
Since April 15, violent and widespread clashes have erupted between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces in various areas of Sudan. Despite several agreements on ceasefires, compliance has not been achieved.
Differences between the Chairman of the Sudanese Sovereignty Council and the Commander of the Sudanese Armed Forces, Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, and the Commander of the Rapid Support Forces, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, became public after signing the ‘Framework Agreement’ in December of last year. This agreement recognized the military’s exit from politics and the transfer of power to civilians.
