Sudan ambassador summoned to explain aid expulsion

Fine Gael today demanded the Sudanese ambassador to Ireland appear before an Oireachtas committee over the expulsion of aid agencies from Darfur.

The party’s Foreign Affairs spokesman Billy Timmins said Omer Mohamed Ahmed Siddigi, who is based in London, must explain the recent developments in Sudan.

The African state expelled 13 aid agencies after an arrest warrant was issued for President Omar Hassan al Bashir for war crimes earlier this month.

Mr Timmins said: In the wake of the arrest warrant for President al-Bashir, a dozen international aid agencies and some local ones have been expelled from Darfur.

“This could have catastrophic consequences for those in refugee camps.”

Irish troops are based in Chad as part of a UN peace enforcement mission, less than 100 km from the troubled Sudanese border.

The troops are responsible for protecting refugees fleeing from the violence in Sudan as well as Chadians displaced by local unrest.

Their commander, Lieutenant Colonel Joe McDonagh, vowed his troops were ready to take action if trouble flared.