Sudan: Parties locked in a zero-sum military logic - DPPA Briefing | United Nations

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UN Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo said that despite sustained efforts to advance peace in Sudan, the parties “remain locked in a zero-sum military logic. Greater international attention, and action, are urgently needed for them to change that calculus.” Addressing the Security Council, DiCarlo reported, “Thirteen million people have fled their homes, including around 8.7 million who are displaced internally across all 18 states. The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights has documented around 1400 civilian deaths from January to June this year, including 1100 people killed by drone strikes.” She added, “Brutal mass killings and atrocities, abductions of women and girls, and mass rapes have been recurring patterns. Since the start of the conflict, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights has been able to document 838 victims of sexual violence, almost all women and girls, but these figures may only be the tip of the iceberg. Drones launched by both sides have repeatedly struck markets, schools, fuel stations, water infrastructure.” She said, “In recent weeks, fighting in Sudan has been characterized by the heavy use of drones and localized ground combat in areas less affected by rainy season conditions. Hostilities have concentrated in North Kordofan, West Darfur, North Darfur and Blue Nile states.” She highlighted, “Another worrying aspect of the conflict in Sudan is its increasing complexity. The sophisticated weaponry used continues to point to ongoing external support to both parties. And while external actors sustain the conflict, the proliferation of armed actors within Sudan is contributing to its fragmentation. Beyond the Sudanese Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces, numerous armed movements and local militias are pursuing their own territorial, political and security interests. This fragmentation complicates prospects for a cessation of hostilities, undermines the path toward a political settlement, and increases risks for civilians.”


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