Saudi Arabia hosts virtual session to support Sudan's transitional government

Sudan is at a turning point in its history. The transitional government is trying to take over the country's institutions while bringing to justice the crimes of former dictator Omar al-Bashir. The Sudanese Executive wants to set aside the Islamist trend that the country has followed over the last 30 years and to do so it is counting on the help and support of Saudi Arabia and the Emirates, which have provided it with access to soft loans and support in international institutions. With the aim of adding support among the international community so that Sudan continues with its transition, Saudi Arabia has sponsored the virtual session of the 8th Meeting of Friends of Sudan, according to the Saudi press agency (SPA). The most surprising aspect of the conference has been the participation of Qatar, which has no diplomatic relations with the desert kingdom since 2017. 

Abdalla Hamdok, the current prime minister of Sudan, was the first to speak at the session, along with Prince Faisal bin Farhan al Saud, Saudi Arabia's foreign minister. The meeting has also included the participation of Southern Sudan with the presence of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Beatrice Khamisa Wani, and the President of the Government of Southern Sudan Committee for Peace Mediation in Sudan, Tut Galuak. 

But the most striking presence of all at the meeting was that of the special envoy of the Qatar Foreign Ministry for the fight against terrorism and mediation in conflict resolution, Mutlaq bin Majed al Qahtani, according to a communiqué from that department published by the Efe agency. In this note it is indicated that Al Qahtani has highlighted the need to "not compete with Sudan", while calling for respect for the sovereignty of the African country, its political independence and the aspirations of its population to live in democracy with "security, stability and prosperity".  Qatar has been subject to a diplomatic and trade blockade by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt since 5 June 2017, when those countries broke off relations and accused it of sponsoring terrorism. 

Participants engaged in a discussion on the reforms Sudan needs to achieve an inclusive and sustainable peace, as well as economic stability and prosperity in the coming years. Countries friendly to Sudan have also recognized the important role that the government of Southern Sudan has played in advancing the Juba peace talks. Sudan has become a new contested area of influence between Saudi Arabia and its Gulf allies on the one hand, and Turkey and Qatar on the other. Abu Dhabi and Riyadh have helped Sudan financially by transferring money, oil, food or medicine. They have also provided Khartoum with access to soft loans.  

The capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been the scene of political negotiations between armed groups and the Government of Sudan. Egypt, a Saudi Arabian ally, has used diplomacy within the African Union to support the position of the central government in Khartoum. Riyadh also showed its support for the generals who took control of the government after the coup d'état that overthrew Omar al-Bashir. Turkey and Qatar, on the other hand, are on the side of the Islamist movements.  

Thus, the geopolitical position of Sudan has changed after the "Arab Spring". In 2017, the United States lifted sanctions against the country, which considered it a nation that promoted terrorism. Sudan also cancelled all its defence agreements with North Korea last June. Little by little, Khartoum has been abandoning the influence of the Islamists and Iran to move closer to the Sunni positions, closer to Saudi Arabia and the Western orbit.