Sudan: Initiative to secure a Humanitarian Truce & Political Transition - Briefing | United Nations

UN top official for political affairs Rosemary DiCarlo welcomed the progress in the initiative led by the Quad countries to secure a humanitarian truce in Sudan, calling on parties to the conflict to engage with the initiative “in good faith and without preconditions.” The Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs briefed the Council on the situation in Sudan, noting that near the fourth year of the war, the fighting continues to expand. In recent weeks, the frontlines have fluctuated in North Darfur, North Kordofan, South Kordofan and Blue Nile states. She also cautioned that the risk of regionalization of the conflict is a matter of urgent concern. DiCarlo also said, “alongside work to silence the guns, progress on charting a political vision for the future of Sudan is of utmost urgency.” She said, “we must anchor any ceasefire in a credible political process that can pave the way for an inclusive transition. And we are firmly committed to ensuring that voices reflecting Sudan’s diversity are heard.” The Under-Secretary-General reiterated, “it is critical for all of Sudan’s partners to be united behind peace efforts,” explaining this entails ensuring the flow of weapons to the warring parties is cut off. She said, “The war has gone on this long and been this deadly in large part because of the support the parties have received from abroad,” adding that unified messaging and strong action by the Security Council is “more important than ever.” DiCarlo said, “pressure must be brought on the parties and those who back them to end the war now. The parties must also know that there will be accountability.” OCHA official Edem Wosornu briefed the Council via video link. She described the human toll of the fighting is “egregious.” The UN humanitarian affairs office reminded all parties that “they must protect civilians and ensure their essential needs are met.” Wosornu said, “this includes taking constant care to spare civilians and civilian objects, allowing civilians to move to safer areas, and allowing humanitarian relief to reach civilians in need safely.” “The scale, severity, and brutality of gender-based sexual violence demand urgent international action to support survivors, prevent further abuse, and reinforce protection services – and hold perpetrators to account,” the OCHA official highlighted. She urged the Council to use influence to urge the parties to respect international humanitarian law and protect civilians across Sudan, and to ensure that are protected and their work facilitated. The UN humanitarian affairs office also asked the members of the Council and all other Member States with influence to “work together in pursuit of an immediate stop to the fighting, to stem the flow of weapons into Sudan, and to press for the lasting, inclusive peace that is so desperately needed.” Hala Alkarib, Regional Director of the Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa (SIHA) also spoke at the Council. She highlighted, “sexual and gender-based violence against Sudanese women and girls is a central feature of this conflict.” “Such violence, including rape, torture, enslavement, trafficking, detention, abductions and killing continues since the beginning of the war,” she added. The women’s rights activist also warned, “the collapse of the health care systems means that survivors of sexual and gender-based violence lack adequate medical care and psychosocial support.” She explained, “without access to necessary sexual and reproductive health care, including post rape care, women are dying of hepatitis, HIV / AIDS, syphilis and other STIs. Without access to emergency contraception and safe abortion, survivors are forced to carry unwanted pregnancies to term.” For his role, Sudanese Ambassador Al-Harith Idriss al-Harith Mohamed told the Council, “Sudan remains committed to constructive engagement with the US for peace.: He called for “bringing pressure to bear on the regional sponsor so that they can cease supplying the militia with military equipment.” Ambassador Mohamed reiterated, “ending external military interference must precede any other step. It is the key to stopping the war and to enhance civilian protection.” The Sudanese Ambassador also rejects “any expansion of the scope of resolution 1591, and any arms embargo imposed on the Sudanese Armed Forces.” He said, “we believe this would be as a support to the militias. We believe shortcomings can be addressed by revitalizing the Jeddah Declaration, which contains commitments that can be built upon.”


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