Activists from London For Sudan and Action For Sudan protested outside Emirates Stadium during a high-profile Arsenal match, urging the club to terminate its sponsorship deal with Emirates Airlines. They assert that the UAE is contributing to the humanitarian crisis in Sudan by supporting the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) with arms. Protestors declared that Arsenal’s partnership with Emirates implicitly associates the club with these atrocities. They called on fans to participate in their campaign for accountability regarding this sponsorship.
On Sunday, demonstrators from London For Sudan and Action For Sudan assembled outside the Emirates Stadium during the Arsenal versus Liverpool match to protest Arsenal F.C.’s contractual relationship with Emirates Airlines. They called for the termination of this sponsorship due to allegations concerning the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) involvement in Sudan’s worsening humanitarian crisis, which has been linked to severe violence in the region of El Gezira. The groups released a joint statement highlighting the devastating surge in violence that has arisen in the area following the defection of a commander of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and his troops to the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF). “In just 48 hours, over 500 men have been killed in a single village, and at least 37 cases of rape have been reported around Rufaa in Sudan’s El Gezira state. Tragically, some 130 Sudanese women are believed to have taken their own lives to avoid RSF violence,” the statement detailed. Local residents had previously expressed concerns regarding potential retaliatory actions from the RSF, leading to fears of ongoing cycles of vengeance and deepening conflict. The activist groups accuse the UAE of exacerbating the crisis by allegedly supplying weaponry to the RSF, a claim that has garnered support from various stakeholders. During the UN Security Council’s 9,611th meeting held in April, Sudan’s Permanent Representative to the UN asserted the UAE’s involvement in this matter. In contrast, the UAE has refuted these allegations, labeling them as “baseless.” As the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate, the protestors claim that the UAE, which owns Emirates Airlines, is economically benefiting from the turmoil by leveraging access to Sudan’s resources in return for support of the RSF. According to the activists, “Arsenal’s continued partnership with Emirates Airlines implicitly links the club to these atrocities,” arguing that the UAE is engaging in “sportswashing genocide in Sudan.” The demonstrators called upon Arsenal fans and the general public to advocate for the cessation of the Emirates sponsorship, encouraging supporters to “take a stand for Sudan” through petitions and direct accountability demands towards the football club.
The article discusses a recent protest by UK activists against Arsenal F.C. for its sponsorship by Emirates Airlines, which is alleged to have ties to the ongoing humanitarian disaster in Sudan. This protest arises from alarming reports of escalating violence in the region of El Gezira, attributed to the conflict involving the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF). The unfolding crisis has brought forth serious accusations against the UAE, suggesting it supports the RSF militarily, contributing to violations of human rights. The protest and allegations implicate Arsenal F.C. due to its sponsorship, linking the club to the broader implications of these humanitarian concerns.
In conclusion, the protests outside the Emirates Stadium reflect a growing concern regarding corporate sponsorship and its implications in international human rights crises. Activists are calling for Arsenal F.C. to sever its ties with Emirates Airlines, citing alleged involvement by the UAE in the humanitarian catastrophe in Sudan. As violence escalates in El Gezira, the protestors emphasize the need for accountability and ethical responsibility within sports sponsorships, bringing attention to the serious ramifications of such partnerships on global humanitarian issues.
Original Source: www.dabangasudan.org
