The United States on Monday accused Russia at the United Nations of funding both warring sides in Sudan, an apparent move from Washington’s previous assertion that Moscow was playing both sides of the conflict to advance its political goals.
The war broke out in April 2023 amid a power struggle between the Sudanese armed forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) ahead of a planned transition to civilian rule, triggering the largest displacement crisis and of hunger in the world.
In November, Russia vetoed a draft UN Security Council resolution calling on the warring parties to immediately cease hostilities and ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid. The remaining 14 members of the council voted in favor of the text.
“Russia chose obstruction: it voted alone to endanger civilians, while financing both sides of the conflict – yes, that’s what I said: both sides,” Russia said on Monday. American Ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, to the Council. , without giving further details.
When asked for more details, a spokesperson for the US mission to the UN said Washington was aware of Russia’s “continued interest in Sudan’s gold trade” and condemned any material support to the warring parties – “whether through the illicit gold trade or the supply of gold”. military equipment. »
“We believe that cooperation by Sudanese authorities in gold mining with sanctioned Russian entities and individuals could prove contrary to Sudan’s long-term interests and the aspirations of the Sudanese people to end the war” , declared the American mission to the UN spokesperson.
In response, Russia’s deputy ambassador to the UN, Dmitry Polyanskiy, said: “We regret that the United States is trying to judge other world powers by its own standards. »
“It is obvious that in the Pax Americana that our American colleagues are trying to preserve at all costs, relations with other countries are built solely on their exploitation and on criminal projects aimed at the enrichment of the United States,” a- he declared.
Reuters was not immediately able to contact the warring parties in Sudan for comment.
In December, Russian Ambassador to the UN Vassily Nebenzia rejected what he called “fabrications spread by Western countries and their media” that Moscow was trying to play both sides to gain advantage from the war.
In what she said was likely her last council meeting, Thomas-Greenfield became visibly emotional while addressing her counterparts on Sudan, a crisis that has been a central focus of her four years within the world body.
“Despite all the disappointment of not being able to do more, of realizing that we – all of us – haven’t done more – I remain hopeful,” she said. “I hope that the representatives sitting around this table – the colleagues turned friends – will continue this sacred mission, this ultimate responsibility.”
Thomas-Greenfield was nominated by President Joe Biden. Donald Trump will succeed Biden on January 20.