UNSC voices concern over eruption of fighting in Sudan, urges return to dialogue
United NATIONS,
The UN Security Council has expressed “deep concern” over the military clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces (RSF)and called for restoration of calm.
In a press statement on Saturday night, the members of the Security Council urged the parties to immediately cease hostilities, restore calm and called on all actors to return to dialogue to resolve the current crisis in Sudan.
The 15-member Council stressed the importance of maintaining humanitarian access and ensuring the safety of UN personnel.
They reaffirmed their strong commitment to they unity, sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Sudan.
Major disagreements have recently emerged between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF, an independent Sudanese military force, especially over the RSF’s integration into the army.
Clashes erupted on Saturday morning between the RSF and Sudanese Armed Forces in many parts of the capital Khartoum and other areas outside the capital.
According to media reports, the RSF claimed that it had taken control of Khartoum international airport, Merowe airport, al-Obeid airport and the presidential palace.
The RSF grew out of the Janjaweed militia, formerly active in the Darfur region of the country. The organization has been involved in talks aimed at a transition from the military rule in place since the 2021 military coup, to a civilian government.
A statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General Saturday noted the UN chief’s call for the leaders of the Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese Armed Forces to “immediately cease hostilities, restore calm and initiate a dialogue to resolve the current crisis,” and for Member States in the region to support efforts to restore order and return to the path of transition to civilian rule.
In a Security Council briefing on 20 March, Volker Perthes, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Sudan and Head of the United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS), had warned that tensions between the Sudanese Army and the RSF have risen in recent weeks, and called for de-escalation.
In his statement on the current fighting, Perthes, according to the UN, reached out to both parties asking them for an immediate cessation of fighting, to ensure the safety of the Sudanese people, and spare the country from further violence.
The UN chief also raised concerns over the “devastating” impact that any further escalation in the fighting would have on civilians, further aggravating the already precarious humanitarian situation in the country.
Similar concerns were raised on Saturday by Martin Griffiths, the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator. In a Tweet, Griffiths said that more violence would only makes things worse for the nearly 16 million people, around a third of the population, in need of humanitarian aid.
An update on the humanitarian in Sudan, released on 13th April by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), noted that humanitarian needs across Sudan are at an aal-time high, with conflict one the four most significant risks, alongside natural disaster, disease outbreaks, and economic deterioration.
An update on the humanitarian situation in Sudan, released on 13 April by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), noted that humanitarian needs across Sudan are at an all-time high, with conflict one of the four most significant risks, alongside natural disasters, disease outbreaks, and economic deterioration.
Volker Turk, the Un rights Chief, expressed alarm at the unfolding situation, tweeting on Saturday that the people of Sudan “deserve better”. Turk wrote that a “Voice of Reason” is urgently needed, in order to stop violence and “revert to earlier promising path towards peace and civilian transition”.
Sources: APP
