Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 8 October 2024

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence

Humanitarian Crisis in Sudan: Discussion

3:15 pm

Photo of Charles FlanaganCharles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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I have a final question. I am sorry if I drew things out for longer than was necessary but we have not had a discussion on Sudan for some time. I was very keen that we would and that the issues would be amplified. There is one area I might ask the witnesses to comment on. The external actors in the region are more than just the neighbours or people looking for land, occupying or invading. I mentioned the United Arab Emirates earlier. As Ms de Barra has said, it is a country with which Ireland has significant political and economic relations. Countries like Qatar, Egypt, Iran and Russia are all at least alleged to be involved in providing military equipment and arms to one side or the other. Has the Arab League been able to take a stance? I see reference to the African Union but it again is not involved in any meaningful way. Perhaps the leadership of the Arab League in Africa is in a position to take a stronger role. Is it involved in any way at the political level?