Niger’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has affirmed its readiness to cooperate with Sudan to retrieve assets stolen by mercenaries aligned with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
Among the RSF forces currently stationed in Khartoum, a group from Niger’s Arab minority has been implicated in the occupation of civilian residences and pillaging personal property and vehicles. Reports indicate that hundreds of these individuals have been observed crossing the border back into Niger.
On Monday, Ali Al-Sadiq, the Sudanese Foreign Minister-designate, and Bakary Sangaré, the Nigerian Foreign Minister, convened a meeting during the UN General Assembly sessions.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed that Al-Sadiq briefed his counterpart, Sangaré, on “intelligence pertaining to the involvement of Nigerien mercenaries within the insurgent Rapid Support militia.”
The statement asserted that these mercenaries are actively engaged in theft and plunder, absconding with the vehicles and assets of civilians. Consequently, there is a pressing need for bilateral coordination between the two governments to thwart the registration of these stolen vehicles and recover the looted possessions.
The statement further emphasized, “The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Niger has affirmed his nation’s willingness to collaborate with the Sudanese government in the recovery of any vehicles or pilfered items that may have entered Niger.”
The military has accused the Rapid Support Forces of enlisting mercenaries from West African nations to partake in the conflict that has raged in Sudan since April 15, 2023.
The Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs is actively pursuing diplomatic measures to tighten the grip on the Rapid Support Forces and is urging countries worldwide to classify them as a terrorist organization.
The conflict has displaced 5.3 million citizens from their residences and has wrought havoc on vital infrastructure and food processing facilities. These disruptions have led to a significant drop in economic activity, with estimates indicating a reduction of up to 42%, as reported by the United Nations.