Organization of Islamic Cooperation affirms solidarity with Sudan, calls Rapid Support Forces 'rebels'
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation affirmed its full solidarity with Sudan in the face of the continuing armed conflict caused by the rebels of the Rapid Support Forces. It stressed the importance of maintaining the security and stability of Sudan and respecting its sovereignty and territorial integrity. It also considers the Jeddah Platform as the basis for any negotiation, demanding the implementation of all its provisions and results.
This was stated in the resolution adopted by the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation during its 50th session in Bayoundi, Cameroon, from 29 to 30 August 2024. The resolution contained:
– Stressing its full solidarity with the Republic of Sudan regarding the armed conflict caused by
Rapid Support Rebel Forces.
Adopt the description of the Rapid Support Militia as “rebel forces,” for the first time in Organization of Islamic Cooperation resolutions.
– Stressing the importance of maintaining security and stability and respecting the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Sudan.
– Considering the Jeddah Forum as the basis for negotiation and stressing the need to implement all its provisions and results.
Ambassador Dafallah Al-Haj Ali, Sudan's permanent representative to the organization, led the country's delegation to the meeting. The delegation actively participated in the work of the session and provided detailed details of the violations and atrocities committed by the rebel militia against defenseless civilians, its attacks on residential areas, safe villages and hospitals, and its perpetration of a number of massacres, in addition to its detention of several thousand innocent citizens after abducting them from their homes or from public roads. The delegation responded strongly to the attempts of the United Arab Emirates and Chad to stop labeling the rapid support militia as rebels.
Ambassador Hussein Awad Ali, Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, welcomed the decision of the international organization, which is one of the largest organizations after the United Nations. He expressed gratitude to the member states for their solidarity with Sudan and their strong support. He considered that the decision reflects the growing international and regional awareness of the reality of the militias, and that they are nothing but rebel and terrorist forces. The International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) and the League of Arab States have already described the militias in this way.
He said that Sudan called on international and regional organizations and the entire international community to consider the militia as a rebel and terrorist group that threatens state security, regional and international security and stability, describing what was achieved in Yaounde as a step in this direction and a victory for Sudanese diplomacy.
The Foreign Minister pledged to redouble efforts and efforts at the external level and through all international and regional platforms to uncover war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide committed by the rebel militia with the aim of classifying it as a terrorist organization.
