Qatar and Barbados Stand for Justice and Human Rights

Sudanhorizon- Mohamed Osman Adam

The speeches of global leaders at the General Assembly of the United Nations in its current session and during the high-level ministerial meetings on its sidelines varied in length and strength. However, two speeches by women stood out for their focus on Sudan: the Barbados and the Qatar representatives.

Both women represent nations of great standing despite their limited geographical area. As the pre-Islamic poet Al-Samaw’al Al-Azdi once said:

• “Not few, those who are like us ****** Young men who rise to greatness, as do our elders.”
• “What harm is there if we are few when our neighbour is powerful, and the neighbour of most is humiliated?”
• “We remain pure without impurity, and our secret is safe ****** Women carried us well, and our men are noble.”
• “We are like the rain, and nothing among us is insignificant ****** Nor are any of us considered miserly.”
• “We reject what others say if we wish ****** And no one rejects our word when we speak.”

Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Amor Mottley, did not leave the gathered leaders of the nations – after being scolded by Israel’s Prime Minister during the 79th session of the General Assembly – without reminding them of their double standards, even in quoting from the Old or New Testament. She said, “You take what suits you and discard what doesn’t.” Furthermore, she criticised the world for turning a blind eye to what is happening in Sudan, failing to curb the aggressor, oppressor, rebel forces, and their supporters, stating, “This is a remnant of racism.” She emphasised that when aggression happens to the West, the world rises collectively, but when it happens to Sudan, they merely approach the microphones lazily to show off.

Prime Minister Mottley also referenced Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s argument that “Israel will remain forever,” according to the prophet Elijah in the Bible, to justify violence and killings in Gaza under the pretext of protecting Israel. She countered him, saying, “The same Bible says that no one has the right to take revenge, for revenge belongs to the Lord.” She added, “It is not the right of any state, entity, or group to seek revenge.”

Speaking the language of the digital age, Prime Minister Mottley told the UN General Assembly on Friday morning that the world needs a “reset.”

She said, “We continue to struggle with the climate crisis as a human family, grappling with the legacy of the pandemic.” She added, “Now, we sadly face multiple theatres of war and scenes of horror and famine flowing from these conflicts instead of seeking to develop the citizens of every country.” She cited Sudan, Gaza, Ukraine, and Myanmar as examples, noting that the world cannot afford the distraction of war. “If ever there was a time for a collective pause and reset, it is now – collectively as an international community and individually as leaders in our respective countries.”

She also highlighted that the world has turned its back on Sudan, suggesting that the silence surrounding Sudan might be rooted in racism. She said, “The silence around Sudan is unacceptable and may be rooted in the racism the world still wears as a badge of honour from the victories of the last great war, World War II.”

The official UN website may not have transcribed these quotes, but they were delivered sound and image. This is a slap that the Western world has never received before from within the UN building. Had this war occurred in Ireland, the speed of intervention would have been legendary.

Prime Minister Mottley emphasised that leaders have a duty to “offer new opportunities and solutions to these crises that stifle economic growth, limit the ambitions of our people, and numb our senses to the beauty and goodness the world should offer.”

She added that this reset is “what all our citizens demand.” Simply put, “Too many people are going to bed hungry.”

She stressed that the inability to reset globally would exacerbate “a crisis of confidence in the existing international system, which must become inclusive and responsive to all.”

She continued, saying that this global reset should target our rules and institutions to eliminate discrimination and processes that create first- and second-class citizens based on one’s country of origin.

Prime Minister Mottley noted that 2024 is the final year of the UN’s decade, stating that while much has been achieved, Barbados and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) join the growing call for an immediate second decade to address the issue of reparations for slavery and colonialism.

As wars continue worldwide, Mottley said the UN has a vital role, emphasising that “there are few areas where the world needs the UN more than in securing the goals of peace and security outlined in its charter.”

However, she added that the UN, especially the Security Council, needs reform, stressing that the current composition of permanent and non-permanent members “has no place in the 21st century.”

On the other hand, Qatar’s Minister of State for International Cooperation, Lolwah Al Khater, brought comfort, as the official Sudan News Agency reported. Remarkably, her speech preceded that of Qatar’s representative before the high-level ministerial meeting dedicated to humanitarian issues in Sudan on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meetings.

Minister Al Khater said that when they met in the same venue last year, “We hoped to meet this year after the war had ended to discuss development plans and how to repair the damage caused by this bloody war – rebuilding both stone and people,” pointing to the prolongation of the war due to external factors.

She stressed the need to fulfil international commitments made at the 2023 Geneva Conference, which pledged $1.6 billion, and the 2024 Paris Conference, which pledged €2 billion to support Sudanese people inside and outside the country.

She noted that Qatar supported Sudan after the war with $75 million from the Qatar Development Fund and $21 million from non-profit organisations such as Qatar Charity and the Qatari Red Crescent. “This is not a favour from anyone; it is a duty imposed by humanity, the bonds of Arabism, and the values of noble Islam.”

Minister Al Khater also highlighted that during her recent visit to Port Sudan, she was amazed to find that despite the war and the destruction of infrastructure and homes, Sudan continued to host large numbers of refugees with generosity and kindness, just as it had before the war, even amid shortages of food and medicine.

She also noted that during her visit to Gaza, she was surprised to learn that many doctors were graduates of Sudanese universities and that Sudan had been providing scholarships to Arab brothers, treating them like Sudanese citizens in terms of education, healthcare, and all aspects of life with generosity and humility.

But the rest of the world, as Barbados’ representative stated, remains silent about the killing, displacement, and expulsion in Sudan.