KEY POINTS
- The UAE ambassador’s residence in Khartoum was attacked by the Sudanese military amid the ongoing conflict.
- The attack underscores the growing instability in Sudan, with foreign diplomats increasingly at risk.
- The UAE has condemned the attack and called for an end to hostilities in the region.
As tensions in Sudan continue to rise, the house of the UAE ambassador in Khartoum was attacked by Sudanese military. The event happened at the time of fighting between different groups of the military which has further destabilized the country. The UAE quickly denounced the attack and pointed to the growing risks to diplomatic missions in the region.
This attack is not the first of its kind in Sudan’s capital where the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have been fighting for several months.
The glorious city that was is now a theatre of war with innocent citizens and foreigners being killed and maimed. In its statement, the UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that there were no casualties from the attack, however, the event demonstrates the increasing dangers of the situation for diplomats from different countries in the region.
Rising tensions
The conflict in Sudan has escalated in the last few months and is now between the military and paramilitary forces. It has actually gotten worse to the point that even embassies as well as diplomatic compounds cannot be secured.
As the Reuters reported, the UAE ambassador’s residence was among numerous international facilities that became involved in these armed conflicts.
Khartoum has been under heavy fighting as the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces struggle for power. The people are feeling the heat of the conflict with thousands of people displaced, cities attacked and infrastructure devastated.
Traditionally, foreign diplomats are not involved in such struggles and are often targeted, they are becoming a target.
International response
The UAE is a major political actor in Middle Eastern and African affairs and has been among the most vocal in its condemnation of the fighting.
The bombing of its ambassador’s house is a new level of aggression that may worsen relations between Sudan and other Arab countries. The UAE government has called on both the parties to cease hostilities and resume the peace talks.
The rest of the world has also expressed concern in the violence in Sudan with global organizations urging for cease fire now.
However, despite the conflict being occurring on the background of diplomatic sanctions, attempts to mediate the battle have not been very effective since no parties seem ready to surrender.
Hope for peace?
Nevertheless, one must put hope in Sudan to some extent despite the growing manifestations of the civil war. The international community is still involved, the African Union and the United Nations are trying to come to the negotiating table of both parties to the conflict. Humanitarian assistance is still being delivered to the country, but the delivery is still a problem due to the conflict.
Sudan’s people are strong and the process of trying to bring peace is not hopeless. However, with favorable, consistent international pressure along with a push for diplomacy there is still hope for the region to attain peace and security.
