Continued violence in parts of Sudan, particularly sexual and ethnically targeted violence, risks engulfing the country in a prolonged conflict with regional spillover, senior United Nations officials told the Security Council today, as they warned that the country’s descent into a full-blown humanitarian catastrophe continues to deepen.
Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee, Assistant Secretary-General for Africa, Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations, said that fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces continues, particularly in Khartoum, Bahri, Omdurman and Darfur. However, while the East is relatively calm, there are indicators of active mobilization efforts in support of the Sudanese Armed Forces. “The humanitarian and protection needs are rising by the day with no signs of a reprieve,” she stressed, expressing deep alarm over the surge in sexual violence and recruitment of children into armed groups.
The United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS) continues to denounce such acts, including ethnically motivated attacks, systematic looting, rape, and aerial bombardments, she went on to say. It has also named those responsible. She also reported a rising trend of pressuring civilians and tribal leaders to take sides in the war, adding that such action could lead to a wider civil conflict with ethnic and regional repercussions for decades to come. Warning that calls by some to continue the war to achieve a military victory will only contribute to destroying the country, she emphasized: “Now is the time to end this senseless war.”
Edem Wosornu, Director of Operations and Advocacy, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), also describing the harrowing situation that the Sudanese people are going through, reported that since the last briefing on 23 June, more than 1.4 million additional people have fled their homes. Having visited the country two weeks ago, she recounted the myriad of stories of sexual violence, harassment, and physical assaults. “From the lack of coverage of Sudan in the global media, one could be mistaken in believing that the situation was improving,” she said, adding: “This could not be further from the truth.”
Nearly four months into this conflict, more than 4 million people have now fled the violence – 3.2 million displaced internally and close to 900,000 who have crossed the border into Chad, Egypt, South Sudan, and other countries, she continued. Noting that negotiations regarding the delivering of aid are becoming increasingly complex, she stressed the need to conduct direct contact on humanitarian issues with concerned parties. In addition, the ability to scale up assistance remains constrained by delays in the issuance of visas and the granting of travel permits, she said.
In the ensuing discussion, Council members expressed deep alarm over the country’s worsening humanitarian situation, with many of the speakers strongly condemning the persistent sexual violence, as well as other crimes committed against civilians amidst the fighting.
The United Kingdom’s representative, describing the impact of the conflict on civilians as “catastrophic”, warned that Sudan is now among the worst in the world for aid access. Further, there is credible evidence to suggest serious violations of international humanitarian law have been committed by both the Sudanese Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces. “Those who have the ability to end this suffering should spare no effort to bring an end to the conflict,” she urged.
Some speakers, expressing concern about the conflict possibly spreading throughout Sudan and even beyond its borders, lauded diplomatic efforts undertaken by regional organizations, including that of the African Union, Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the League of Arab States.
Mozambique’s delegate, also speaking for Gabon and Ghana, reiterated calls on the parties to cease hostilities and embrace dialogue and diplomacy. With the humanitarian crisis descending into a very dark place, he appealed to all armed groups of Sudan to refrain from fighting and help realize the aspirations of the Sudanese people. The people want peace and a return to normalcy, he declared.
Echoing that, Ecuador’s delegate underscored that the Sudanese people have been through enough, with continued sexual violence, indiscriminate attacks, enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings and attacks against schools and hospitals. “We cannot sit by in silence as violations of international humanitarian law and human rights are committed,” he stated.
“History is repeating itself in the most tragic way possible,” the representative of the United States, Council President for August, said in her national capacity. The horrific scenes out of Sudan unfortunately conjure up memories of the genocide committed in Darfur two decades ago, she said, condemning in the strongest term the recent reported atrocities.
Several Council members underscored the need to respect Sudan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, including the Russian Federation’s delegate, who emphasized that external interference in the sovereign affairs of Sudan could add fuel to the fire. More so, implementing unilateral sanctions could exacerbate the suffering of the people. Stressing the need to support State institutions in the country, she highlighted the road map to resolution, presented by the Sudanese authorities.
Clarifying his country’s stance, the representative of Sudan underlined that the war is not a war between two parties, but one, supported by a regional Power, where the Sudanese Armed Forces are defending Sudan’s people against an indiscriminate ethnical war. Further, the Forces are not involved in any sexual violence but are defending people from the perpetrators, he stated, asking Council members what their Governments would do if in this situation: watch militias raping women or deploy forces to defend people.
In addition, he stressed that the Government is very much cooperating with the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Delayed visa issuances are to ensure the safety of aid workers, given that already 18 such personnel have been killed since the conflict began, he pointed out. The current crisis cannot be solved by the expanded mechanism and Sudan’s sovereignty must be respected, he said, calling for a flexible way to resume political talks while rejecting sanctions and foreign intervention.
REPORTS OF SECRETARY-GENERAL ON SUDAN AND SOUTH SUDAN
Briefings
MARTHA AMA AKYAA POBEE, Assistant Secretary-General for Africa, Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations, said that more than 100 days have passed since the eruption of fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces. Clashes between the parties continue in various parts of the country, particularly in Khartoum, Bahri, Omdurman and Darfur. With neither side achieving victory nor making any significant gains, fighting is continuing in neighbourhoods. This week the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces both ordered residents to leave their homes in a part of Omdurman, declaring it “an area of operations”. The brutal violence in El Geneina and Sirba are particularly concerning and could engulf the country in a prolonged ethnic conflict with regional spillovers. Welcoming Chad’s proposal to convene a grouping of Darfurian stakeholders to address the situation, she said that they should ensure the participation of armed groups, tribal leaders, civil society and women’s groups.
The situation in the two Kordofan and the Blue Nile states of Sudan continues to be fragile, with persistent military actions and frequent road closures, she continued. While the East is relatively calm, there are indicators of active mobilization efforts in support of the Sudanese Armed Forces. “The humanitarian and protection needs are rising by the day with no signs of a reprieve,” she reported, expressing deep concern that the situation on the ground is growing worse. Sexual violence continues to be perpetrated on a large scale and children continue to be killed or victimized or recruited into armed groups. The systematic abductions and killings of human rights defenders in Darfur and Khartoum are on the rise. The United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS) has denounced ethnically motivated attacks in West Darfur, as well as systematic looting, rape, and aerial bombardments and has named those responsible.
Welcoming efforts undertaken by the African Union and Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), she commended the United States and Saudi Arabia for their role in facilitating negotiations between conflicting parties. “Civilians, tribal leaders and others are coming under increasing pressure to take sides in the war,” she noted, adding that such pressure will only lead to a civil war with ethnic and regional repercussions for decades to come. The voices of civil society, women’s rights groups, young people and resistance committees must be heard and the Mission continues to encourage their inclusivity. More so, Sudanese women are leading the way, calling for the immediate cessation of violence and accountability for human rights violations. Warning that calls by some to continue the war to achieve a military victory will only contribute to destroying the country, she emphasized: “Now is the time to end this senseless war.”
EDEM WOSORNU, Director of Operations and Advocacy, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, said that since the last briefing on 23 June, Sudan’s descent into a full-blown humanitarian catastrophe has only deepened. In these six weeks alone, more than 1.4 million additional people have fled their homes. When she visited the country two weeks ago, she heard stories of sexual violence, harassment and physical assaults, of husbands disappearing never to be seen again, and of education interrupted, careers ruined and livelihoods lost. “Everyone had a story of parents, children, colleagues and friends who had perished in this devastating conflict, with fears of many more to come as the warring factions push on, regardless of the consequences,” she said, warning: “From the lack of coverage of Sudan in the global media, one could be mistaken in believing that the situation was improving. This could not be further from the truth.”
Nearly four months into this conflict, more than 4 million people have now fled the violence – 3.2 million displaced internally and close to 900,000 who have crossed the border into Chad, Egypt, South Sudan and other countries, she continued. About 80 per cent of hospitals across the country are not functioning, and more than 20 million people, or over 40 per cent of the population, are facing acute food insecurity. The banking system has been heavily disrupted, as have public and civil institutions, including many Government functions. Electricity blackouts are extensive and schools are closed. “It is the story of a country and its people being driven to the point of collapse,” she reported, underscoring that the situation is particularly alarming where the conflict is at its most intense – notably in Darfur, Khartoum and Kordofan.
Nevertheless, humanitarian organizations have been deploying immense efforts to restore the flow of humanitarian supplies, particularly to the Darfur states, she said. On 3 August, following intensive negotiations with the parties, a convoy of 10 trucks was able to deliver 500 metric tons of improved seeds to East Darfur just in time before the planting window closes. Last week also saw the first delivery of food assistance into West Darfur from Chad. Stressing the importance of cross-border access into the Darfur region, she acknowledged the generosity of Sudan’s neighbours to facilitate these critical efforts. Assistance is also being provided in Chad to support the more than 350,000 people who have fled across the border. Nationwide, since this conflict started, more than 2.9 million people have received some form of humanitarian assistance, including cash or in-kind food assistance, health services, or access to basic water services. But this, unfortunately, represents only a fraction of the 18 million people in need, she added.
In Khartoum, a humanitarian convoy to the capital has not been granted passage to replenish supplies since late June, she said. Noting that negotiations under the Jeddah process are becoming increasingly complex, she underlined the urgency to re-establish a forum for direct and regular contact on humanitarian issues with the parties at a senior level in order to negotiate access and protect the space for humanitarian operations in Sudan. However, the ability to scale up assistance also remains constrained by delays in the issuance of visas and the granting of travel permits for movement within the country, she noted, adding: “We have asked the Sudanese authorities to ease procedures in these areas and to expedite approvals. We ask them to do so again today. Without adequate staff on the ground, it is extremely difficult for us to expand the delivery of assistance.” More so, the strong support of Member States is needed. The $2.6 billion Humanitarian Response Plan 2023 for Sudan is still only 24 per cent funded, she said, appealing to all Member States to come forward to fund the plan. Until a political resolution is reached, all parties must respect international humanitarian law and minimize human suffering, she emphasized.
Statements
BARBARA WOODWARD (United Kingdom), describing the impact of the conflict on civilians as “catastrophic”, warned that Sudan is now among the worst in the world for aid access. There is credible evidence to suggest serious violations of international humanitarian law have been committed by both the Sudanese Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces, which could amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity. This includes incidents of sexual violence and air strikes in populated areas resulting in heavy loss of civilian life. Noting credible reports of the targeted killing of civilians and atrocities against specific ethnic groups in Darfur, with much of the bloodshed attributed to Rapid Support Forces units and allied militias, she welcomed the International Criminal Court Prosecutor’s decision to commence investigations as well as diplomatic efforts of regional partners, including the African Union, IGAD and the League of Arab States, to restore peace to Sudan. “The people of Sudan have suffered far too long,” she said. “Those who have the ability to end this suffering should spare no effort to bring an end to the conflict”.
ANNA M. EVSTIGNEEVA (Russian Federation), expressing deep concern about the political situation in Sudan, underlined that the hostilities between units of the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces in the capital region have exacerbated the already dire humanitarian situation in the country. Thousands of people have been killed and injured, more than 3 million people have become internally displaced, and hundreds of thousands fled to neighbouring countries. She called on the Sudanese parties to take immediate measures to put a definitive end to the armed confrontation, adding that any dispute can be solved with negotiations. Stressing the need to support State institutions in the country, she highlighted the road map to resolution, presented by the Sudanese authorities. She also described any external interference in the sovereign affairs of Sudan, which could add fuel to the fire of the conflict, as “unacceptable” and called on all to refrain from implementing illegitimate unilateral sanctions which only further exacerbate the suffering of the local population.
ISHIKANE KIMIHIRO (Japan) called on the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces to immediately stop fighting and return to a peaceful and inclusive political process. “It is regrettable that almost four months have passed without any clear sign from the parties of a readiness to end hostilities,” he added. He urged both parties to seriously commit to international and regional efforts towards a long-term ceasefire, unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid and the resumption of political dialogue. The parties also must uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law and ensure the safety of civilians, including humanitarian personnel. All violence must stop immediately and obligations under international humanitarian law must be upheld by all. Also expressing concern that the deteriorated situation could pose a risk beyond the border, he commended Sudan’s neighbouring countries for hosting refugees despite their own humanitarian challenges.
AMEIRAH OBAID MOHAMED OBAID ALHEFEITI (United Arab Emirates) underscored that efforts must continue to alleviate the dire humanitarian situation facing millions of Sudanese. It is essential to secure food and water supplies as well as health services, as almost half the population is suffering from high levels of food insecurity. Attention must also be paid to the needs of displaced persons and refugees, she said, appealing to the international community to provide support to Sudan and neighbouring countries, given the lack of funding received by the United Nations and its humanitarian partners for this year. For its part, the United Arab Emirates provided emergency relief assistance, transporting more than 2,000 tons of medical and food items to Port Sudan and Chad to support Sudanese refugees. Stressing the need to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure and to secure unhindered humanitarian access, she called for the full implementation of the commitments reached in Jeddah.
PEDRO COMISSÁRIO AFONSO (Mozambique), also speaking for Gabon and Ghana, condemned the persisting attacks against civilians, hospitals and critical national infrastructure, as well as the perpetration of sexual abuses against women and girls. “Such acts are unacceptable, and they grossly violate international humanitarian law,” he stressed, reiterating calls on the parties to cease hostilities and embrace dialogue and diplomacy. He encouraged the efforts led by regional organizations, such as the African Union, IGAD and the League of Arab States, towards a sustainable solution to the fighting. He further welcomed the Communiqué of the IGAD Quartet meeting and urged warring parties to engage in the implementation of the Communiqué of the African Union Peace and Security Council.
He called on all armed groups of Sudan to refrain from participating in the conflict and help realize the aspirations of the Sudanese people for a de-escalation of hostilities. “With an estimated 24.7 million people in need of humanitarian assistance, we call on donor partners to step up their financial support to help to meet the target for the humanitarian response plan,” he stressed. Moreover, the growing needs of refugees and internally displaced peoples must be properly and adequately addressed. “We voice our collective rejection of any external interference in the ongoing conflict which would further complicate the situation on the ground,” he added.
