Participation in Yemen coalition ‘a principled stand’, Sudan says

Khartoum: Sudan’s Foreign Minister, Ebrahim Ghandour, has said that his country’s decision to deploy troops in Yemen in support of the Saudi-led Arab coalition is a principled stand to restore legitimacy in Yemen, calling the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Red Sea “a red line area”.
In a statement to the Turkish Anadolu Agency, Ghandour said, “Sudan’s decision to participate in the Saudi-led Arab coalition is to support legitimacy in Yemen. It is a unified Arab stance supported by the Arab League.” He continued, “The decision came after we realised the seriousness of the situation in Yemen, as the Al Houthi militants took over the legitimate authority.”

Ghandour reiterated his country’s support to the Yemeni Government to reach political consensus based on the legitimacy principles, pointing out that the security of Saudi Arabia and the Red Sea is an integral part of the security of Sudan.

Speaking on Saudi-Sudanese relations, the minister said, “They are at their best in history and we strive to enhance these relations in various fields.”

This statement came within days of Sudan deploying hundreds of troops in the city of Aden, in reference to Sudan expanding their participation in the Saudi-led Arab coalition against Al Houthi rebels and forces loyal to ousted former President Ali Abdullah Saleh.

The Sudanese President, Omar Al Bashir, announced earlier his country’s readiness to deploy 6,000 soldiers to Yemen, accompanied by the Sudanese Defence Minister, Awad bin Auf.

Meanwhile, officials from the Yemeni government and representatives of relief organisations in the GCC countries met to discuss the coordination of relief programmes in Yemen.

The meeting, which was held at the headquarters of the GCC General Secretariat in Riyadh, adopted the establishment of a joint coordination mechanism between Gulf relief organisations and the Yemeni Higher Committee for Relief in Aden in order to deliver relief to the needy in various regions in Yemen.

During the meeting, the parties also agreed on supporting the Higher Committee for Relief to strengthen its capacities to ensure the effective and comprehensive performance programmes of relief in all the provinces.