Introduced Under a False Name: Dutch Institute Apologizes for Hosting Al-Qouni Dagalo

Sudahorizon – Follow-ups

The International Institute of Social Studies (ISS) at Erasmus University in the Netherlands has apologized for hosting Al-Qouni Hamdan Dagalo in a seminar on Sudan, held on December 6. The event was organized by the so-called Hague Peace Project and the Fanar organization.
In a press statement on Friday, the institute expressed its shock upon learning that one of the participants (Al-Qouni) is heavily involved in leading the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and is under U.S. sanctions for this reason.
The institute explained that the individual had been presented to them under a false identity, impersonating someone else. It added that the agreement regarding the seminar was violated when Al-Qouni’s associates broadcasted videos of his participation, attempting to legitimize his role.
The ISS expressed deep regret over the incident, stating that it would not have allowed the individual to enter its premises had it known his true identity. The institute acknowledged that his participation added to the suffering caused by the war to Sudanese civilians.
Social media users in Sudan accused a member of the National Umma Party in the Netherlands of facilitating the seminar in collaboration with the institute and enabling the involvement of the brother of the leader of the RSF militia.