S/PV.9568 Security Council

The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. Members of the Council have before them document S/2024/223, which contains the text of a draft resolution submitted by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The Council is ready to proceed to the vote on the draft resolution before it. I shall now give the floor to those members of the Council who wish to make statements before the voting.

The British draft resolution before the Security Council today (S/2024/223) has the seemingly noble aim of enabling the Council to voice its support for a ceasefire in the Sudan, increasing humanitarian access and supporting United Nations mediation efforts. However, most of these efforts are already being carried out, including thanks to the constructive attitude of the Sudanese authorities. It is surprising that, in the case of the Sudan, our Western colleagues, citing the need for an urgent solution to the humanitarian situation, proposed rushing to adopt a Council resolution with a clear call for a cessation of hostilities. At the same time, there were no in-person consultations on the draft resolution, constructive proposals were ignored and the process itself was rushed. We have no illusions about the true intentions of Western countries. However, their “double standards” look particularly egregious in view of the fact that those same countries are delaying the adoption of a draft resolution on a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, where a genuine massacre is taking place whereby more than 30,000 people have been killed in five months. Time and again, the United States uses its veto, stalling for time, demanding that we wait for some results of its “direct diplomacy on the ground”. Nothing of the sort is being offered on the Sudan, although there is a chance to establish mediation efforts right now. Do they really think that this duplicity is not obvious to everyone? From the outset, Russia suggested that we should settle for a more appropriate product for the Sudanese situation — a press statement or a presidential statement. Unfortunately, however, our appeals were not heeded, and we never received a clear explanation. And the time factor has nothing to do with it. References to the need to urgently rectify the situation due to the Sudan’s closure of routes for the delivery of assistance across the border with Chad are no longer relevant. The Sudanese authorities have demonstrated a constructive attitude by deciding, on 5 March, to authorize the delivery of humanitarian supplies through points along their borders with Chad, South Sudan and Egypt, as well as by air to a number of airports. We call on our colleagues to refrain from using the Security Council to advance their own geopolitical ambitions and to approach discussions on the situation in the Republic of the Sudan through the prism of the interests of the people of that country.

I shall put the draft resolution to the vote now.

The draft resolution received 14 votes in favour, none against and 1 abstention. The draft resolution has been adopted as resolution 2724 (2024). I shall now give the floor to those members of the Council who wish to make statements after the voting.

With the adoption of this resolution (resolution 2724 (2024)), the Security Council has sent a strong and clear message to the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces to agree on an immediate cessation of hostilities during the month of Ramadan. That follows the call of the Secretary-General and the African Union. We urge the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces to act on that united international call for peace and to silence the guns. We further urge the warring parties to build trust and seek a sustainable resolution to the conflict through dialogue. The situation in the Sudan is of grave concern, and the humanitarian needs of the Sudan’s population are acute. We support the work of United Nations agencies and civil society organizations in their efforts to support those in need and underline the need for full, rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access. We welcome all mediation efforts to help to achieve an end to the brutal conflict and further encourage the Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy, Mr. Ramtane Lamamra, to complement and help coordinate regional efforts. The Council needs to continue to support efforts for peace in the Sudan. We look forward to working across the United Nations and the region and with other Council members towards that goal. In that regard, I thank my colleagues across the Council for their engagement on the resolution. Let me express my thanks also to our team and to all the colleagues and experts who agreed on the text.

Russia abstained in the voting on the resolution prepared by the United Kingdom on a cessation of hostilities in the Sudan (resolution 2724 (2024)). We decided to allow the resolution to pass, as it is a question of the lives for the Sudanese people, who are suffering from the consequences of the conflict throughout the country. Ending the violence in the Sudan must of course be the primary aim not only of the Security Council but, most importantly, of the Sudan itself. We have consistently called on the Sudanese parties to take that step. We believe that it is the way to resolve all of the problems they face and to achieve a political and diplomatic settlement. We are convinced that the Sudan bears the primary responsibility for the situation in the country. The Sudanese people themselves must and can determine their own future. The task of responsible representatives of the international community, including members of the Security Council, is to facilitate that, not to impose their own rules and principles on a sovereign State. There must be tangible steps, meticulous work and a constructive approach taken towards that end, encouraging the Sudanese to pursue compromises. We will address the topic of humanitarian assistance and access separately. We are firmly committed to the position that such assistance can be provided only in accordance with the relevant guidelines enshrined in General Assembly resolution 46/182, according to which all assistance to countries in need is provided with the consent and in close coordination with national Governments. We are of the view that the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and other humanitarian actors will act with full respect for the sovereignty of the Sudan. In conclusion, we would like to underscore our support for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Sudan and express our hope that the Sudanese people will soon find a solution to the conflict to repair the political and social fabric of their country without external interference.

The United States is pleased that the Security Council united to pass the resolution today (resolution 2724 (2024)). I want to offer my congratulations to the United Kingdom for the hard work that that delegation undertook to try to get a consensus on that text. Nearly one year into the conflict, it is important that the Council has spoken with one voice to condemn the violence, to demand a ceasefire and to call on the parties to ensure the removal of obstructions to the provision of critical humanitarian assistance. We acknowledge this week’s announcement that the Sudanese Government has agreed to one cross- border access route by land from northern Chad and access by air, but that is insufficient. Addressing the dire humanitarian needs of all Sudanese requires unhindered cross-line and cross-border access from multiple points of entry to the most devastated areas of the Sudan. More action is urgently needed to ensure that life-saving aid reaches the Sudan’s most vulnerable. Failure by the authorities of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) to rescind prohibitions on cross-border aid will cause unnecessary death and suffering among the Sudanese people. Both the SAF and the Rapid Support Forces must facilitate unhindered humanitarian access to avert catastrophe and must adhere to their obligations under international humanitarian law. Preventing a famine and long-term catastrophe will require both a ceasefire and unhindered humanitarian access. We condemn in the strongest terms atrocities committed by both parties in the Sudan. We demand that the parties do more to protect — not target — civilians in all circumstances, respect human rights and comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law. As we have said before, the tragedy has gone on too long. We must unite to prevent and stop the flow of weapons that is fuelling the conflict. We are grateful for the Council’s work on the draft resolution on the Panel of Experts of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1591 (2005) concerning the Sudan (S/2024/212). We ask for members’ continued support to adopt the draft resolution today to renew the mandate of the Panel of Experts. Finally, we reiterate our support for the Secretary- General’s Personal Envoy for the Sudan, Mr. Ramtane Lamamra. We will continue to do everything in our power to support his work.

China voted in favour of the resolution (resolution 2724 (2024)), which we have just voted on, calling for a cessation of hostilities during the month of Ramadan by the parties to the conflict in the Sudan. It has been almost a year since the outbreak of the conflict in the Sudan. It has led to heavy civilian casualties, a severe humanitarian crisis and widening spillover effects, which are saddening. Ramadan, one of the most sacred times for Muslims, is fast approaching. We call on the parties to the conflict to put the interests of the country and its people first, effectively observe a cessation of hostilities and implement the relevant Security Council resolutions through concrete actions. The international community should continue to step up diplomatic and mediation efforts to create conditions favourable to peace negotiations between the parties, with a view to restoring comprehensive peace in the Sudan as soon as possible. At the same time, relevant actions should respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country and should not interfere in its internal affairs. China welcomes the recent efforts made by the Government of the Sudan to open border crossings to United Nations humanitarian agencies to guarantee humanitarian access. We call on the international community to continue, in line with United Nations humanitarian principles, to help the Sudan and its neighbouring countries to improve their humanitarian response capacity to prevent the humanitarian crisis from worsening. It is worth noting that, in calling for a cessation of hostilities in the Sudan, the Council could have spoken with greater unity, but the penholder made no further efforts to that end, which we find regrettable. The lives of all people in the world are precious. When adopting a resolution on a ceasefire in the Sudan during the month of Ramadan, the Security Council must not forget that the people of Gaza continue to suffer under bombardment. The international community must push for an immediate ceasefire and an end to the conflict in Gaza, to give the people some hope for survival and to provide the basic security required for Muslims to carry out their religious activities.

This explanation of vote is delivered on behalf of the three African members of the Security Council — Mozambique, Sierra Leone and my own country, Algeria — as well as Guyana (A3+). The A3+ expresses its appreciation to the United Kingdom for the steady efforts made despite the time constraints during the negotiation process. We believe this resolution (resolution 2724 (2024)) will significantly contribute, without any doubt, to the well-being of the population in the Sudan. Today marks an important milestone, which will pave the way towards a peaceful and stable Sudan, through the adoption by the Security Council of this very resolution calling for a ceasefire during the holy month of Ramadan. This decisive action reflects a collective commitment to promoting peace and stability in the country during this sacred and spiritually significant period. Therefore, it is our hope that Sudanese actors will seize this opportunity to lay down their weapons and create an atmosphere for dialogue, further humanitarian access and a cessation of hostilities in order to advance collectively on the track to a peaceful future. The A3+ hails the commendable decision taken by the Sudanese authorities to ease humanitarian access through various border crossings. By opening them, the Sudanese Government is providing a lifeline aimed at reaching affected areas, in which assistance is urgently required. At this stage, prioritizing the coordination of regional and international efforts and harmonizing various initiatives becomes crucial. The goal is to bring closer the various internal actors for an inclusive dialogue in order to find Sudanese solutions to Sudanese problems, without any foreign interference — I repeat, without any foreign interference  — and, ultimately, forge a path towards viable peace. We would like to reiterate our unwavering support to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, his Personal Envoy, the African Union and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development for their mediation efforts and good offices, as well as their efforts to foster dialogue, reconciliation and sustainable solutions for the well-being of the people of the Sudan. In conclusion, Guyana, Mozambique, Sierra Leone and Algeria reaffirm their commitment to working constructively and tirelessly with Security Council members for a peaceful and prosperous future in the Sudan.