The United Nations is urging an immediate ceasefire in Sudan as violence escalates, resulting in alarming levels of displacement and attacks on peacekeepers. UN Secretary-General António Guterres called on the warring parties to prioritize compromise and protect civilians, marking another year of turmoil in the country.
Guterres welcomed a peace initiative presented by Sudan’s Transitional Prime Minister at the UN Security Council earlier this week. He emphasized that only a cessation of hostilities and an inclusive political dialogue can reverse Sudan’s ongoing crisis. A civilian-led transition remains crucial to achieving lasting peace.
Security Concerns and Humanitarian Crisis
In his statement, Guterres reaffirmed the readiness of the UN’s Personal Envoy for Sudan to facilitate discussions between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). This diplomatic effort emerges amid severe security setbacks, highlighted by a recent drone strike on a UN logistics base in Kadugli, South Kordofan. The attack resulted in the deaths of six Bangladeshi peacekeepers and injuries to several others, prompting the evacuation of a longstanding UN facility.
Humanitarian conditions are deteriorating sharply, with UN briefings indicating that Kordofan has become a new epicenter of violence. Reports of drone strikes targeting civilians, including children, as well as hospitals and schools, have surged. The conflict between the SAF and RSF has intensified across Darfur and Kordofan, leading to mass displacement and obstructing vital aid delivery.
The violence erupted in April 2023, following a power struggle among Sudan’s military leaders, resulting in a humanitarian crisis described as one of the world’s most severe. Rights groups have documented indiscriminate attacks on civilians, destruction of health facilities, and mass displacement from camps like Zamzam in North Darfur, raising serious concerns regarding potential war crimes and crimes against humanity.
International Response and Ongoing Pressure
International pressure for a ceasefire is mounting. In recent months, UN officials and foreign ministers from Germany, Jordan, and the United Kingdom have collectively called for an immediate cessation of hostilities. They warn that ongoing atrocities, famine, and a climate of impunity are driving Sudan toward catastrophe.
The situation in Sudan continues to evolve, with the UN emphasizing the urgent need for a unified response to protect civilians and support a path toward peace. The international community remains engaged, hopeful that renewed diplomatic efforts can lead to a breakthrough in the ongoing conflict.
