Sudan’s army-controlled foreign ministry took a stance on Monday regarding recent criticisms of Saudi Arabia by certain Sudanese writers and activists.
Tensions escalated following the circulation of a video featuring Rapid Support Forces (RSF) partaking in military exercises in southern Saudi Arabia.
This prompted disapproval from individuals affiliated with Sudan’s Islamic movement.
In an official statement, the Foreign Ministry addressed the growing discourse, noting that the views expressed in some writings and social media posts regarding Sudanese-Saudi relations do not represent the official stance of the government or its people towards the leadership and populace of Saudi Arabia.
The statement expressed disapproval of the harsh criticisms leveled against the Saudi leadership and emphasized the importance of maintaining respectful language, highlighting Sudan’s cultural tradition of politeness towards fraternal nations, especially the leaders of sister countries.
Particular attention was drawn to writer Abdel Majid Abdel Hamid, who accused Saudi Arabia of neglecting Sudan’s contributions during the “Decisive Storm” operation and criticized alleged RSF incitement campaigns originating from Saudi soil.
Additional dissatisfaction arose from rumors propagated by a Saudi activist suggesting Saudi Arabia had intercepted a weapons shipment intended for Sudan.
The Sudanese military has refrained from commenting on these claims.
Emphasizing the significance of Sudan’s ties with Saudi Arabia, the Foreign Ministry pointed to shared religious affiliations, linguistic similarities, and mutual interests. It urged influencers and social media users to refrain from actions that could jeopardize relations with Saudi Arabia and other friendly nations.
Saudi Arabia clarified that the RSF training footage is outdated and did not involve artillery, marching, or medical exercises.
