UN calls for end of weapons supplies to Sudan’s warring parties

Diksha — Wed, 13 Nov 2024 10:54:10 +0000

The United Nations has said continued weapons supplies to Sudan’s warring military and paramilitary forces are “enabling the slaughter” and must stop, with civilians bearing the brunt of the conflict.

Both the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) are escalating their military operations and recruiting new fighters fuelled by “considerable” external support and a steady flow of arms, said Rosemary DiCarlo, the UN undersecretary-general for political and peacebuilding affairs.

“To put it bluntly, certain purported allies of the parties are enabling the slaughter in Sudan,” she told the UN Security Council (UNSC) late on Tuesday, without naming any of the countries or parties sending weapons.

“This is unconscionable. It is illegal, and it must end.”

Sudan plunged into civil war on April 15, 2023, as a result of a power struggle between the RSF led by Mohamed Hamdan “Hemedti” Dagalo and SAF chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan.

The UN says the war has killed more than 24,000 people and created a humanitarian crisis that has displaced 11 million people. Of them, nearly three million people have fled to neighbouring countries, in the world’s worst displacement crisis.

Both sides, especially the RSF, have been accused of war crimes and massacres, which they deny. The paramilitary group, which faces many allegations of ethnic cleansing in areas including West Darfur, claims rogue parties are behind the attacks.

DiCarlo said it is long past time for the rival warring parties to come to the negotiating table, but added that they appear convinced they can win on the battlefield, something that is driven by outside support.

Sudan’s government has accused the United Arab Emirates of arming the RSF. The Gulf nation has denied the allegations. The RSF has also reportedly received armed backing from Russia’s Wagner mercenary group.

UN experts said in a report earlier this year that the RSF has received support from Arab-allied communities, with military supply lines running through neighbouring Chad, Libya and South Sudan.

Al-Burhan, the army chief who led a military takeover of Sudan in 2021, is a close ally of neighbouring Egypt and its president, former army chief Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi. Sudan’s Foreign Minister Hussein Awad Ali held talks in Tehran in February, leading to speculation that Iran may be preparing to send drones to government forces. Iran has not reported any arms shipments to Sudan.

This comes as the UNSC is discussing a resolution proposed by the United Kingdom that demands Sudan’s warring parties immediately cease hostilities and calls on them to allow unhindered deliveries of humanitarian aid as more than half of the country’s population of 50 million faces severe food shortages.

As a three-month approval by Sudanese authorities for the UN and aid groups to use the Adre border with Chad to deliver supplies to Darfur is set to expire in mid-November, the draft also calls for the crossing to remain open.

Mint Primer | Iran strikes Israel: What next?

Aseem — Wed, 02 Oct 2024 09:04:27 +0000

The latest strikes by Iran on Israel must be viewed beyond the lens of a simple military offensive. Any attempts to contain a more belligerent Iran will also require the US to exert greater influence over Israel’s actions. Mint explains: –

Why did Iran attack Israel?

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has said that the attack was in retaliation for the killings of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah and IRGC commander Abbas Nilforoshan in Beirut on 27 September. It also noted the death of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran in July.

This strike signifies a belligerent Tehran’s readiness to retaliate against perceived threats to its sovereignty, sending a clear message both domestically and internationally. While Israel and its key ally, the US, have worked to curb Iran’s regional proxies—including the Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, and Hamas in Gaza—Iran’s latest airstrike shows it is prepared to respond directly.

What comes next?

These strikes have moved the region closer to the brink of a catastrophic conflict. The coming months will be critical as Israel, Iran, and various regional actors adjust their strategies. Israel, backed by the US, has vowed to avenge the attack.

The conflict is unfolding against the backdrop of two competing visions for the region: one led by Israel and the US, which views Iran and its proxies as obstacles to its vision and hegemony in West Asia, and the other led by Iran and its axis of resistance, which sees Western influence as a threat to its regional power ambitions.

How does this threaten global trade, particularly for India?

Escalating conflict risks disrupting vital global shipping routes, especially as Israel tightens its stance against Hezbollah. Hezbollah maintains strong ties with the Houthi rebels in Yemen, who have been responsible for multiple attacks on ships passing through the Red Sea.

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This could severely disrupt global supply chains, impacting countries like India that rely heavily on the Suez Canal for trade with Europe, the US, Africa, and West Asia.

How will the US respond?

The US has pledged to stand firmly by Israel and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. However, the larger question remains: can the US afford the moral responsibility of escalating tensions that could push the world closer to war, or is it already complicit? This also raises the question of whether a full-scale regional war is on the horizon, one that might only end with a shift in US policy. Despite Washington’s diplomatic posturing, does this situation reflect a decline in American influence and its ability to rein in its increasingly assertive ally, Israel, and Netanyahu?

What is India’s position?

India has expressed concern and reiterated its offer to facilitate dialogue between Israel and Iran. However, its evolving strategic, defence, and technological partnership with Israel, along with its shift from previous positions on Palestine, raises questions about how India will balance these relationships on the ground.

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India’s official stance remains that terrorism has no place, and it supports Israel while also advocating for respect for humanitarian law. As the situation develops, India may need to take more proactive steps in line with its long-standing commitment to peace and diplomacy.