Despite “famine,” al-Burhan’s authority expels the World Food Programme from Sudan

A new crisis is facing the Port Sudan authority led by Sudanese army commander Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, after an official decision was issued to expel senior staff from the World Food Programme (WFP) office in Sudan, despite the urgent need for the UN agency’s efforts and aid to fight famine in a country torn by war since mid-April 2023.

Official expulsion order

Sudanese “Radio Dabanga” revealed that the Foreign Ministry affiliated with the Port Sudan authority summoned “the country director and the head of operations at the World Food Programme in Sudan, informed them that they were persona non grata, and forced them to leave within 72 hours at the latest.”

The Foreign Ministry of the Port Sudan authority refused to respond to questions from local media about the reasons for expelling WFP officials at a time when its efforts are badly needed. The Programme, for its part, commented on the decision, saying it “threatens operations that support millions of vulnerable people in Sudan,” and confirmed it is in contact with the authorities to protest the measure and request clarification.

In a statement, the Programme said it “is in contact, along with senior UN officials, with the relevant authorities to protest the official decision issued by the Sudanese Foreign Ministry and to obtain clarifications about it,” noting that “the Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed Programme officials of the decision and asked them to leave without providing any explanation.”

The statement pointed out that “the decision to expel the country director and the emergency coordinator comes at a critical moment, as humanitarian needs in Sudan are now greater than ever; more than 24 million people are facing acute food insecurity, and some communities are suffering from famine.” The UN agency stressed that the expulsion decision forces it to make “unplanned changes in leadership, which puts at risk operations that support millions of vulnerable Sudanese, at a time when they are facing severe hunger and malnutrition and are at risk of starving to death.”

The Sudanese Foreign Ministry had disclosed its decision to remove WFP leaders after it summoned the representative of the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Gemma San Martín, and informed her of its objection to a report published by OCHA on humanitarian work on 23 October, “in objection to the publication of incorrect information about the efforts of the Port Sudan government to facilitate relief activities,” according to a statement published by “Sudan Tribune” quoting the Port Sudan Foreign Ministry.

This comes at a time when the United Nations has repeatedly warned of the danger of famine threatening Sudan. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) revealed that the humanitarian crisis is worsening because of the war, saying that “Sudan is suffering from a humanitarian crisis of staggering proportions, while food security has deteriorated to its worst levels in the country’s history.”