ROME (ITALPRESS) – On April 15, three years ago, a conflict began in Sudan that is still causing “a catastrophic deterioration of the humanitarian situation”. This is how Sudan’s ambassador to Rome, Emadeldin Mirghani Altohamy, described the ongoing war in his country, which pits the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
In an interview with Claudio Brachino for Diplomacy Magazine, the geopolitics column of the Italpress news agency, the ambassador referred to a “grim anniversary” for the Sudanese population. “On that very day, the Rapid Support Forces began committing crimes not only in Sudan, but also in Africa and around the world, and they are considered responsible for some of the most serious crimes against humanity. The war has led to the occupation of 11 out of 18 states in Sudan, the deaths of 150,000 people, the displacement of 12 million citizens, and the complete destruction of the country’s infrastructure, with a catastrophic deterioration of the humanitarian situation”, the diplomat said. We call for solidarity from peoples around the world with the Sudanese people”, he added.
This appeal for solidarity has already been answered by Italy through the humanitarian initiative Italy for Sudan, launched last December. “The initiative represents a concrete expression of the solidarity of the Italian people and government toward the Sudanese people and government, and it is based on the excellent bilateral relations between the two countries in this context”, the ambassador commented, thanking the Italian authorities. “This initiative has had a strong impact and wide resonance among Sudanese citizens and has been positively received by our government. This demonstrates the strength of relations between Sudan and Italy under these circumstances” the diplomat added.
According to Altohamy, relations between Italy and Sudan “are longstanding and continuous” and include cooperation in various fields, including cultural, social, and political areas. “There is also a good level of economic activity between the two countries, as Sudan has great economic potential, particularly in the agricultural, livestock, and mining sectors”. the diplomat explained. “Italy imports numerous natural products from Sudan, especially gum arabic, of which we export about 90 percent of global production. Sudan is also the world’s third-largest producer of sesame and the leading producer in Africa. We also export agricultural and livestock products such as hides and oilseeds. We import many Italian products, as Italy is a technologically, industrially, and agriculturally advanced country, and therefore there is a broad exchange that includes industrial goods, electrical equipment, construction materials, and food products, as well as significant cooperation with many major Italian companies, particularly in the infrastructure, roads, and bridges sectors”, the ambassador continued, noting however that “the volume of trade between the two countries requires further efforts”.
The country is currently facing an emergency situation, and humanitarian aid is an essential component at this stage. However, the latest international donors’ conference, held in Berlin on April 15, drew criticism from Sudanese authorities. “The Berlin Conference is not the first conference in this context, as it was preceded by the Paris and London conferences. However, in my view, the Berlin Conference made a serious mistake by not inviting the internationally recognized Sudanese government. The Sudanese government is the legitimate government and the legitimate representative of the Sudanese people, and the international community recognizes it as such based on these principles. The Sudanese Armed Forces are the country’s official forces under the Constitution since Sudan’s independence. Treating the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces as two parties in conflict represents a serious injustice and a violation of sovereignty”, the ambassador said.
At such a difficult time, the cultural dimension can serve as a channel for dialogue and closer ties between peoples. According to Altohamy, this dimension is one of the most important, also in relations with Italy. “Relations between Sudan and Italy have deep historical roots, dating back to the Roman Empire and ancient Nubian civilization, as confirmed by archaeological discoveries”, he noted. “Cultural and human relations between Sudan and Italy are therefore based on very ancient foundations”, he continued, adding that in this context, one of “the best programs implemented” was developed in cooperation with the Italian Parliament under the slogan “United for Sudan”.
– Photo Italpress –
(ITALPRESS).
