Al Atta’s Statements: Will Al-Burhan’s Army recreate past crises with neighboring countries?

The Sudan Founding Alliance (Tasees) expressed its strong condemnation on Tuesday of the “hostile statements” made by the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), Yasser Al-Atta, which included explicit threats against the States of Chad and South Sudan. These statements managed to invoke growing concerns within Sudan in regards to the possibility of sparking new tensions with neighboring countries.

The Alliance stressed that these “irresponsible” statements don’t represent the Sudanese people, but rather reflect the aggressive approach adopted by the Islamist regime in creating crises, threatening the security and stability of neighboring countries and the entire region.

Al-Atta, a member of Sudan’s Sovereignty Council, threatened Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Déby “Kaka” last Sunday, stating that the airports of N’Djamena and Amdjarass in Chad are legitimate targets for the Sudanese Army. He also accused certain circles within the South Sudanese government of collaboration and treason.

In its statement, the Sudan Founding Alliance (Tasees) condemned Al-Atta’s comments, reiterating that (Tasseel), which includes a broad spectrum of military, political, and civilian forces in Sudan, is scheduled to announce the country’s new government soon.

The Alliance emphasized that such desperate attempts to antagonize neighboring countries that hosted thousands of Sudanese fleeing the war ignited by the Islamists and their members within the hijacked Sudanese Army, are unacceptable.

The Sudan Founding Alliance’s statement added that the new Sudan the Alliance seeks to establish won’t be a launching pad for chaos and sabotage projects, but rather a State based on the values of peace, openness, and positive communication between the people.

Tasees accused the remnants of the deposed “Islamist” regime, who effectively control the decisions of military leaders; of supporting extremist terrorist Movements, establishing militias to destabilize neighboring countries, in addition to putting forth efforts to further isolate and destroy the country.

The Alliance reaffirmed its stance of full solidarity with the Republic of Chad and the Republic of South Sudan in the face of such irresponsible statements. Tasees called on the international community, including the African Union (AU), the United Nations (UN), in addition to regional and international partners, to adopt a firm stance against these threats that effectively compromise regional as well as international peace and security.

In its statement, Tasees emphasized that the only way for Sudan to emerge from its current crisis lies in defeating this “terrorist Islamist regime” and building a secular, federal, and civil State that respects international conventions and establishes its relationship with the world on the foundations of respect, peace, and development.

The statement went on to reiterate that Sudan won’t be a hotbed of chaos, hatred, and terrorism, noting that the active national forces in Sudan will strive to make Sudan a factor of stability and peace in its regional and international environment.

For its part, the Chadian Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned Yasser Al-Atta’s statements, considering them “irresponsible” and containing explicit threats to Chad’s security and territorial integrity, describing them as a “Declaration of war.”

The Chadian Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that the current situation -which it described as unfortunate- is a direct result of the irresponsibility of the new military leaders in Sudan, noting that Chad won’t tolerate any form of aggression directed against it.

In its statement, the Foreign Ministry added that Chad will respond decisively and proportionately to the nature of the aggression if its territory or security are jeopardized.

In a similar response, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Government of South Sudan summoned the Sudanese Ambassador to Juba, Issam Karrar, on Monday to protest the statements made by the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Sudanese Army against their country.

The Government of South Sudan considered these statements to be “attacking independent States,” describing them as “provocative and irresponsible,” and considering them a threat to relations, good neighborliness, and International Law.

The Juba government affirmed that it will take all necessary measures to protect its Sovereignty, security, and the dignity of its citizens from any form of aggression, while continuing to pursue diplomatic means to maintain regional security.

Juba called on regional countries and the African Union to take a firm stance against these aggressive statements to prevent any potential escalation of the situation.