What is happening in Sudan, the country that recognized Kosovo?

Like other recognitions of Kosovo's independence, Sudan's recognition also provoked opposition from Serbian leaders. But this time, Serbia's argument did not only include a claim that Resolution 1244 was being violated. So why was the validity of this recognition contested?

On April 12, Kosovo's president, Vjosa Osmani, announced that Sudan became the 119th country to recognize Kosovo's independence.

Just about 24 hours later, the Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs questioned the legitimacy of the "current government" in Sudan to make such decisions.

What is happening in Sudan?

In the past two years, Sudan has faced what the United Nations (UN) calls the world's largest famine crisis. Tens of thousands of people have been killed and over 13 million have been forced from their homes.

All of this is caused by the power struggle between the military chief, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and his former deputy, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, who now leads the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

President Osmani secured recognition of independence during a meeting with Sudanese Foreign Minister Ali Yousif Ahmed Al Sharif, who is part of the government led by Al-Burhani.

Since then, their opponents, the RSF led by Dagalo, have announced that they are forming their own government for Sudan, with which they will govern in the regions they control.

Dagalo – who is sanctioned by the US over allegations that his forces committed genocide in Sudan's Darfur – said on April 16 that he and his allies are creating "a 15-member presidential council" representing all of Sudan's regions.

This decision was not welcomed by the UN, which immediately responded that the priority should be to preserve the unity and sovereignty of Sudan and that the creation of a parallel government does not help towards solving the problem.

RSF's attempt to create a parallel government has also been opposed by many countries, including the US.

Serbia alluded to this political situation in Sudan when it questioned the legitimacy of recognizing Kosovo's independence.

However, even after the start of the war on April 15, 2023 in Sudan, the cabinet of Sudan's "de facto" leader, Al-Burhan, has continued to play its usual role.

The Foreign Minister himself, Al Sharif, who confirmed the recognition of independence from Sudan in the meeting with Osmani, also met with the Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, this year.

According to a statement from the Russian Foreign Ministry, during this meeting, "ways to strengthen cooperation between Russia and Sudan in various fields" were discussed.

How does Serbia usually react to recognitions of Kosovo's independence?

Since Kosovo's declaration of independence on February 17, 2008, Serbia has consistently opposed recognition of Kosovo's independence by third countries, citing respect for United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244.

Serbia argues that this Resolution envisages that Kosovo's status be resolved through negotiations with Serbia and that it will have temporary self-government under the supervision of the UN Mission in Kosovo, UNMIK.

But, in 2010, the International Court of Justice found that Kosovo's independence did not violate international law.

Kosovo has responded to these reactions from Serbia by calling on the European Union and international partners to address Serbia's statements, which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora of Kosovo (MFA) considers a violation of the Brussels Agreement.

The MFA is based on two articles of the Brussels Agreement, which obliged Kosovo and Serbia to “develop normal, good-neighborly relations with each other, on the basis of equal rights” and which stipulated that Serbia “shall not block nor encourage others to block Kosovo’s membership in international organizations.”

"Serbia's attempt to discredit Sudan's sovereign decision is not only a violation of its commitments within the framework of the dialogue, but also an insult to Sudan's sovereignty and the fundamental principles of international law," the MFA statement, published on April 15, said.

Similar reactions and counter-reactions were also caused after the recognition of independence by Kenya at the end of March this year.

Serbia was called out in Resolution 1244, while Kosovo responded that it was violating the Brussels Agreement.

Expert Gëzim Visoka, professor of Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Dublin in Ireland, had said that he hopes that the recognition from Kenya will be a "turning point" in Kosovo's diplomacy, as the previous recognition was that from Israel in 2021.

"Recognition by Kenya represents a good opportunity for the Government of Kosovo, but also for other engaged actors, to regain momentum and work sustainably and strategically to conclude the process of international recognition of Kosovo," Visoka told REL.Radio Free Europe/