Claire Rush, France 24 spoke to Ambassador Nureldin Satti, the first Sudanese ambassador appointed to the U.S. in over 20 years. The Ambassador spoke about how the coup has strained ties with Washington, how he plans to maintain international backing, and how economic pressure could impact the country’s military.
UPDATE: General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan fires six Sudanese ambassadors — including to the US, EU, China and France — for siding with the civilian leaders he ousted.
Sudanese Ambassador Nureldin Satti
Nureldin Satti is the current Sudanese ambassador to the United States. In 1974, Satti received his doctorate in literature from the University of Paris-Sorbonne. Following his graduation, Satti returned to Sudan to teach the French language and literature at the University of Khartoum.
In the following year, he joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sudan. From 1992 to 1996, he served as ambassador to France, the Vatican, Portugal and Switzerland. And as Permanent Delegate to UNESCO. On May 5, 2020, Satti was appointed to be the first ambassador to Washington from Khartoum in 20 years.
On Monday, Noureldin Satti Sudanese Ambassador to the United States denounced the forceful military coup and rallied the calls to release the political detainees in Sudan.
Sudanese ambassadors to France, Belgium, Switzerland, China, South Africa, Kuwait, Qatar and the UAE issued a joint statement Tuesday to condemn the coup d’état by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan.
“We strongly condemn the military coup d’état in Khartoum”
“We strongly condemn the military coup d’état in Khartoum and the unlawful detention of the Prime Minister and members of his cabinet,” reads the joint statement.
Other Condemnations of the Military Coup
On 26 October the EU Delegation to Sudan and Troika and Switzerland issued a joint statement on the Military Coup in Sudan.
Statement of the EU Delegation to Sudan + Troika + Switzerland
In alignment with many international statements condemning the unconstitutional change of government in Sudan, the EU Delegation in Khartoum, with the support of Embassies of France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK and the US, makes the following statement:
We note the return to his residence of Prime Minister Hamdok, but we also call for the immediate release of all political detainees without delay. We continue to recognize the Prime Minister and his cabinet as the constitutional leaders of the transitional government.
It is paramount for the Ambassadors based in Khartoum, to be able to communicate with the Prime Minister. We therefore urgently request to be able to meet with the Prime Minister.
We furthermore underline the importance to respect the fundamental right to demonstrate by all Sudanese citizens and the need to respect all other human rights of all citizens. The security forces and other armed elements must refrain from violent attacks at all times and peaceful protestors must be protected.
We further reiterate the critical importance of unfettered humanitarian access throughout the country. Particularly in these difficult hours, the continued outreach of the international humanitarian community to the Sudanese in need of assistance should be main priority of any authority in the country.
Specifically the humanitarian operations of UNHAS are indispensable for this assistance to reach the people. We therefore urge that UNHAS be allowed to continue their countrywide operations.
We confirm once again the international calls for the immediate return to the roadmap for democratic transition of Sudan, as laid out in the Constitutional Document and the Juba Peace Agreement.
An inclusive, peaceful and constitutional dialogue between all stakeholders in Sudan’s transition is the only way to freedom, peace and justice for all.
Image: Kremlin.ru
