Abdel Fattah al-Burhan: Sudan is aware of the role played by the United Nations

teleSUR English

Speech of Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, Chairman of the Transitional Sovereignty Council of Sudan, in the 79 Period of UNGA. teleSUR

Transcript

00:00Welcome back to Cessna English, and let's go now live again to the United Nations as

00:09the General Assembly continues to be underway.

00:11May the peace and blessings of God be upon you.

00:16I speak before you today on behalf of the people and the government of Sudan.

00:23I would like to congratulate the President of this 79th session of the General Assembly

00:30and his team.

00:31We wish you every success, especially in the face of various threats to peace and security,

00:40threats which endanger our organization and which undermine freedom, peace, and justice

00:48leading to the violation of the law.

00:53Sudan stands convinced of the important role played by the United Nations.

00:58We support all initiatives geared towards reforming the organization and its body, specifically

01:04the Security Council, with a view to enshrining pluralism, collective security, and upholding

01:11human rights, all the while tackling the challenges of climate change and ethnically and ideologically

01:18motivated terrorism.

01:20Ladies and gentlemen, Sudan commends the choice of theme for this session, unity and

01:28diversity, for the advancement of peace, sustainable development, and human dignity.

01:33We welcome the priorities set by the President of this 79th session.

01:41Furthermore, it's important to implement the outcomes of the Summit of the Future, especially

01:47as regards United Nations reform and Security Council reform, so that these bodies can put

01:53an end to the protracted crises threatening international peace, as well as to achieve

01:59consensus and harmony in the relations between states and peoples.

02:04Unilateral measures taken outside the United Nations framework in complete violation of

02:09the UN Charter and international law, political and economic restrictions, these are the main

02:18drivers of instability, especially as regards security, the economy, and also on the political

02:28front.

02:29All of this fuels war.

02:30However, I must also add that double standards and selectiveness are currently prevailing

02:37in international affairs.

02:38There can be no doubt about it.

02:41Sudan is facing very serious challenges.

02:44And in fact, a war is being waged.

02:47There's a conspiracy.

02:48A war has been waged by a group that has rebelled against the state for many years.

02:51It's receiving political and logistical support at the local and regional levels.

02:55You've all witnessed the crimes, the violations, and the atrocities committed by these rebels

03:02targeting the Sudanese people and the Sudanese state.

03:05The war began with an attempt, an attempt to seize power through force.

03:12With time, it's transformed into a total war against the Sudanese state and the Sudanese people.

03:20Countless crimes have been committed, ethnic cleansing, forced displacement, and genocide.

03:29All of this has been committed by the Rapid Support Forces, the RSF, which should be considered

03:34a terrorist group.

03:35This militia is continuing to perpetrate crimes, and it is most unfortunate that it is receiving

03:41the support of some states in the region, states which are providing funding and mercenaries

03:48for their own political and economic benefit in flagrant violation of law and international will.

03:59Mr. President, these terrorist groups have also hit diplomatic missions, other organizations,

04:05and property.

04:06They have not spared the UN, and in fact, UN headquarters, the UN office in Sudan, has

04:11been targeted.

04:14The Daghla family has been violating all laws and all international obligations with impunity.

04:22The family refuses to comply with the JIDA declaration and rejects UN Security Council

04:27resolutions regarding the arms embargo imposed on Darfur.

04:32Thus, ethnic cleansing crimes are continuing.

04:35Most recently, we also recorded a violation of the resolution on al-Fasha, the capital

04:44of north Darfur state.

04:46This begs the question, why has the international system not taken any firm or dissuasive measures

04:53vis-a-vis this group and those who support it?

04:56Despite everything that's been done, all the crimes, we've witnessed crimes against

04:59humanity, war crimes.

05:01Despite their refusal to implement Security Council resolutions and decisions adopted

05:06by regional organizations, all the more reason to call for Security Council reform to avoid

05:11this policy of impunity and double standards becoming key characteristics of this organization.

05:20Ladies and gentlemen, this devastating aggression being waged by the RSF, with the support of

05:26states in the region providing funding and mercenaries as well as weapons to the RSF,

05:32have resulted in deaths of dozens of thousands of Sudanese and the displacement of many millions

05:39more.

05:40Sudanese people have been forced to leave their lands, their motherland, to evade these

05:45armed groups.

05:46They have taken refuge in various regions.

05:50Millions more Sudanese are living in peace today in other parts of the country.

06:00Systematic attacks committed by the militia are contributing to the suffering of our compatriots.

06:04As a result, we've been seeking a peaceful solution to the situation, and the Jeddah

06:08Declaration dated May 2023 should have been enough to put an end to this war.

06:13And yet, regional political players who are in favor of the war have a different take

06:19on the situation.

06:20This has resulted in the situation we have on our hands today.

06:23As a result, and so as to alleviate the suffering of our fellow Sudanese and to facilitate the

06:28delivery of humanitarian assistance, we've opened our borders and airports.

06:32We've lifted all impediments to this aid being delivered.

06:39Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen, the Sudanese government is steadfastly committed to facilitating

06:46humanitarian assistance, protecting humanitarian convoys and personnel, as well as medical

06:51personnel.

06:53We fully uphold international humanitarian law and measures geared towards the protection

06:59of civilians.

07:00The protection of civilians is our responsibility, especially when women and children are being

07:05hit the hardest by violations committed in areas controlled by the militias.

07:11Some women and children have even been sold in marketplaces.

07:14The humanitarian crisis affecting a large majority of our population, owing to the aggression

07:19being waged by the Daghla militia, require us to act in concert with one another.

07:27It's necessary to provide assistance to millions of displaced persons and refugees.

07:34On our side, we're doing everything within our power so as to ensure that aid is delivered

07:39to those who need it most.

07:43We would like to thank all neighboring states who've welcomed displaced persons and refugees.

07:47We thank organizations providing assistance to the Sudanese people as well.

07:52President, we face a very tall challenge.

07:55This organization must shoulder its responsibility, specifically so as to protect developing countries

08:03in the face of the avarice of some other states who would like to control our people's riches

08:07through the use of force, and specifically through the use of money.

08:13We hope that the will of our people will prevail.

08:17Numerous crises, including the one underway in Sudan, are the product of a policy of double

08:24standards as well as political approaches based on exerting power, economic blackmail,

08:32and the fact that the organization has not managed to deter those who defy the will

08:37of their people and of nations, threatening international peace and security.

08:45Mr. President, today we have a marketplace of initiatives.

08:53Some of these initiatives serve narrow interests, and the corrosive effects of this are patently

08:58obvious.

08:59In our countries, artificial conflicts are growing in number.

09:02For this reason, we need national ownership, this particular principle, and that's why

09:08since the start of the crisis, we've done everything we could to put an end to this

09:12war and to spare our country from the destruction being waged by the Dagalu militia, attacking

09:21the Sudanese people.

09:23Thus, we contributed to various constructive initiatives, and we still harbor hopes of

09:29ending this conflict so as to guarantee the dignity of the Sudanese people and the sovereignty

09:34of our state.

09:37We are hoping to ensure that the conflict will not be resumed and the conflicts will

09:42end.

09:43The path towards an end to this conflict is clear in our view.

09:46First and foremost, we need to put an end to the hostilities.

09:49The militias must withdraw from all of the areas they currently occupy and from which

09:56people have been displaced.

09:58They must lay down their weapons so that people can go back to their homes and so that assistance

10:05can be delivered.

10:08This will also facilitate the reopening of roads, airports, and the resumption of production.

10:13Second, this end to hostilities must be accompanied with a comprehensive political process so

10:19that we can see through the political transition, avoiding the resumption of war and potential

10:29coup d'etats.

10:30Mr. President, the Sudanese Armed Forces, the SAF, is one of the state's oldest institutions.

10:37It's non-politicized.

10:38It's very much in favor of a democratic transition, and it's committed to the right of the Sudanese

10:43people to pick its leadership.

10:46This is why the SAF is upholding the commitments undertaken as part of the glorious 2019 revolution

10:54so that a consensus government, an elected government, can accede to power.

11:01We will never accept a return to the previous regime, which was rejected by the Sudanese

11:06people.

11:07Thus, we are very much committed to facilitating the transition process moving towards a civilian

11:13government.

11:14We will continue pursuing peace, working with all groups who have laid down their weapons,

11:24as well as with groups who still carry weapons but who are willing to respect the Juba Peace

11:29Agreement signed in 2020.

11:32Throughout this war, the Sudanese Armed Forces have done everything they possibly could,

11:38continuing to uphold international humanitarian law, as well as the Geneva Conventions and

11:42protocols thereto.

11:45Working to protect civilians and to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian assistance, we

11:49stand ready to partake in all initiatives that can help to put an end to this war.

11:53As soon as we have an initiative that would respect the principle of national ownership

11:59and will put an end to the control and occupation of our territory by this rebel militia, we

12:06are also in favor of all initiatives which will protect civilians and guarantee the dignity

12:11of our people.

12:13These are the prerequisites for a return to democracy.

12:16It's unacceptable for a government as well as for the Sudanese people to partake in these

12:21– to see organizations who have supported the war, states who have supported the war

12:26and massacres of Sudanese partaking in such initiatives.

12:29Some of these organizations and states have allowed weapons to be funneled through their

12:33territory to the militias, and they've also provided political support to these rebel

12:39groups.

12:40We will continue acting to convince the aggressors that they shouldn't be receiving this assistance.

12:45Mr. President, I'd like to thank all of the states, as well as the organizations and

12:51various human rights defense groups, as well as civil society organizations, all those

12:56who have tried to paint a true, accurate picture of what is happening in Sudan.

13:01I welcome the outcome of the Great Lakes Summit in Rwanda and the meeting that took place

13:07in Yaoundé.

13:09Last year, at all of these meetings, the RSF were described as a rebel group working against

13:13the state.

13:14We've managed to circumscribe the activities of this group and deter them – hopefully

13:20we'll be able to deter them from acting in a similar fashion in other countries.

13:27The RSF should be called as they – should be called out for what they are.

13:32They've rebelled against the state.

13:34They're committing terrorist crimes and should be considered as such here at the United

13:38Nations.

13:39Mr. President, before I conclude, I'd like to reassert our position vis-à-vis the issue

13:45of Palestine and the right of the Palestinian people to establish an independent state with

13:50the 1967 borders.

13:52It's necessary to put an immediate end to the aggression being waged in Gaza and in

13:57Lebanon.

13:58We also call for Palestine to become a fully-fledged member of the United Nations.

14:03By way of conclusion, we'd like to extend our gratitude to all those who've supported

14:07us through these testing times.

14:10Millions of Sudanese still need your help.

14:13Thank you very much, Mr. President.

14:16I'd like to reiterate that the will of the Sudanese people will prevail.

14:22May the peace and blessings of God be upon you all.

14:26We were listening from the representative from the president of the transitional council

14:34in Sudan, also addressing the General Assembly of the United Nations in its 79th edition,

14:40as he was also discussing one of the other most pressing topics in this session that

14:45has to do with the conflict, the ongoing conflict in Sudan.

14:49We will come back with more updates in upcoming news briefs.

14:52Stay tuned with Telus for English.

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