Opening of Adré Border Crossing… Sudan’s Action is Internationally and Regionally Applauded

By Sudanhirozon – Talal Ismail

The Sudanese government has received praise from the United Nations, the international community, and regional bodies for its decision to reopen the Adré border crossing with its western neighbour, Chad. Alongside this praise, it has become clear that the international community acknowledges the government’s sovereignty even though the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia effectively controls traffic through the crossing.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres commended the Sudanese authorities for reopening the Adré border crossing between Chad and Darfur. He emphasised the importance of taking concrete and sustainable measures to facilitate humanitarian access and protect civilians in line with the parties’ commitments under international humanitarian law and previously agreed mechanisms.
Guterres underscored the necessity for humanitarian organisations to have full, safe, and unhindered access to civilians needing assistance throughout Darfur and across Sudan.
He affirmed that the United Nations remains committed to working with all relevant parties to help end the conflict and alleviate the suffering of the Sudanese people.
Leni Kinsley, spokesperson for the World Food Program (WFP) in Sudan, stated that the vital humanitarian corridor would allow the program to expand its aid to 14 areas across Darfur, Kordofan, Khartoum, and Gezira.
A Route for Weapons
On Thursday, the Transitional Sovereignty Council announced that it had ordered the reopening of the Adré border crossing with Chad for three months to ensure humanitarian aid reaches famine-threatened areas in the Darfur region.
The government had halted the delivery of aid through the border crossing last February, stating that the RSF militia was using it to transport weapons and supplies.
Earlier this year, UN experts confirmed reports that the militia had received arms shipments from the UAE via Chad.
On Thursday, Sudan’s Humanitarian Aid Commissioner, Othman Khojaly, stated that calls for a UN Security Council resolution to ignore the ban on Adré were part of a “political agenda” to violate the crossing’s sovereignty and allow “anything” to enter the country.
Adré is the main city of Assonga County in the Wadai region of Chad. It is located near Chad’s eastern border with Sudan and has an airport.
On Friday, the UAE, the US, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Switzerland, the African Union, and the United Nations issued a joint statement welcoming Sudan’s decision to reopen the Adré crossing and calling on the RSF militia to protect aid groups entering through the crossing.