The United States has accused Russia of funding the two warring factions in the ongoing power struggle in Sudan, in a step up from Washington’s previous claim that Moscow was playing both parties of the conflict to advance its political objectives.
“Russia chose obstruction: standing alone as it voted to imperil civilians, while funding both sides of the conflict – yes, that’s what I said: both sides,” US ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, told the UN Security Council on Monday (6 January), without providing further details. In November last year, Russia vetoed — as the only of out its 14 members — a Council’s draft resolution that called on both parties to immediately cease hostilities and ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid, according to StratNews.
When asked to elaborate, a spokesperson for the US mission to the UN said Washington was aware of Russia’s “ongoing interest in Sudan’s gold trade” and condemns any material support for the warring parties – “whether it be through illicit gold trading or the provision of military equipment.” Responding to these accusations, Russia hit back at the US diplomat’s comments, with its deputy UN ambassador, Dmitry Polyanskiy, saying that “we regret that the US tries to judge other world powers by its own yardstick.” The war in Sudan erupted in April 2023 amid a power struggle between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), triggering the world’s largest displacement and hunger crisis.