Russia Vetoes Sudan Cease-fire Resolution at UN Security Council

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Facts

  • Russia used its veto power on Monday to block a UN Security Council (UNSC) resolution calling for warring sides in Sudan to cease hostilities with immediate effect and engage in dialogue towards a national cease-fire.[1][2]
  • Russia was the only one in the 15-member UNSC to either vote against the measure or abstain.[3][4]
  • This comes as Sierra Leone and the UK proposed a draft resolution urging the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) to fulfill their obligations to protect civilians under the 2023 Jeddah Declaration.[5][6]
  • Conflict broke out on April 15, 2023, in the context of a power struggle between forces loyal to army leader Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and militias allied to Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo ahead of a planned transition to civilian rule.[7][8]
  • The civil war in Sudan has left tens of thousands of people dead and triggered one of the world's most severe humanitarian crises. Millions have fled their homes, and half of the country's population requires aid.[5][8]
  • Reports suggest that Russia, Egypt, and Iran have backed the Sudanese army, while the RSF has received support from the United Arab Emirates, Russia's Wagner Group, and Arab-allied communities.[2]

Sources: [1]Al Jazeera, [2]Associated Press, [3]UN News on X, [4]United Nations, [5]BBC News, [6]Anadolu Agency, [7]Guardian and [8]Reuters.

Narratives

  • Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by GOV.UK. The international community had an opportunity to put an end to the slaughter, rape, and famine in Sudan's terrible civil war. However, one country prevented the Council from speaking with one voice. Russia has once again obstructed peace by using its veto power to allow the bloodshed in Sudan to continue. Putin is solely to blame.
  • Establishment-critical narrative, as provided by Dmitry Polyanskiy on X. Sudan does need a cease-fire, but that doesn't mean that an overtly colonial draft resolution that would invite foreign powers into Sudan and effectively make the situation worse must be approved. On top of that, Britain lied that the government of Sudan supported this move. Russia vetoed this resolution because the UNSC can do better.

Predictions