UNITED NATIONS — On Monday, Russia exercised its veto power over a United Nations resolution which called for an immediate cease-fire in the ongoing conflict between Sudan’s military and paramilitary groups, as well as the provision of critical humanitarian assistance to millions facing dire circumstances.
The resolution, proposed by the United Kingdom and Sierra Leone, received backing from China and all other members of the U.N. Security Council, but the Russian veto ultimately thwarted its passage.
After the council meeting, UK Foreign Minister David Lammy expressed his dismay, stating, “This Russian veto is a disgrace. … While Britain collaborates with our African partners, Russia disregards their wishes.”
The situation in Sudan deteriorated significantly in April 2023, with escalating tensions between its military and paramilitary factions leading to violence in the capital, Khartoum, and spreading to other areas, notably western Darfur, a region historically plagued by violence and atrocities since 2003. The U.N. has recently highlighted the alarming prospect that Sudan is on the verge of a famine.
Last week, U.N. political chief Rosemary DiCarlo accused foreign actors supporting warring factions in Sudan of exacerbating the ongoing violence, which has resulted in the deaths of over 24,000 individuals and has triggered one of the most severe displacement crises globally.
U.S. President Joe Biden reiterated these concerns during the G20 meeting held in Brazil, emphasizing the grave humanitarian situation. “On Sudan, we’re witnessing one of the world’s most serious humanitarian crises—eight million people nearing famine,” he stated. “This situation warrants our collective indignation and action. External parties must cease supplying arms to the conflicting groups.”
Biden called for a unified message to the opposing factions: “Stop tearing your country apart. Stop obstructing aid to the Sudanese people. Stop the violence.”
In response, Russia’s deputy U.N. Ambassador Dmitry Polyansky explained that Moscow vetoed the resolution because it believes that responsibility for Sudan’s future rests solely with its government.
U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield expressed her bewilderment, stating, “It is shocking that Russia has vetoed an attempt to save lives, though perhaps it shouldn’t be surprising.” She continued to criticize Russia for obstructing U.N. efforts directed towards addressing the catastrophic crisis in Sudan and noted that the nation appears to seek to fulfill its own political aims at the expense of Sudanese lives.
Allegations have emerged that Sudan accused the United Arab Emirates of providing arms to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a claim the UAE has denied. Reports have also surfaced that the RSF has received assistance from Russia’s Wagner Group. Earlier this year, U.N. experts indicated that the RSF had gained support from various Arab-aligned communities and through newly established military supply routes from Chad, Libya, and South Sudan.
On the governmental side, General Abdel Fattah Burhan, who oversaw a military coup in Sudan in 2021, has received backing from Russia and maintains a close alliance with Egypt’s President, Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, who is also a former military chief. In February, Sudan’s foreign minister met with his Iranian counterpart, with reports suggesting that discussions involved potential drone acquisitions for government forces, although these claims remain unverified.