Sudan says great lakes summit backs recommendation to classify RSF as terrorist group

The Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that the Great Lakes countries’ summit approved a recommendation to classify the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) as a terrorist organisation.

The ninth summit of Great Lakes states concluded in the Congolese capital, Kinshasa, issuing its final statement. The statement included a clear recommendation to the UN Security Council calling for the condemnation of the Rapid Support Forces.

Sudan’s delegation to the summit was led by a Member of the Transitional Sovereignty Council and Deputy Commander-in-Chief, Lieutenant General Engineer Ibrahim Jaber Ibrahim, along with several government officials and security leaders.

The summit’s final statement addressed security and defence issues within the Great Lakes region, as well as matters concerning women, children, and social development. It also discussed ways to protect the member states’ minerals from exploitation or use to fund militias and rebel groups in the region.

Sudanese Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ambassador Muawiya Osman Khalid explained that “the ninth summit approved the recommendations submitted by the organisation’s ministerial council and the recommendations of defence ministers and security agencies, all of which called for classifying the Rapid Support Forces as a terrorist organisation.”

READ: Egypt, Saudi Arabia call for Sudan ceasefire, full implementation of Gaza agreement