S/PV.9611 Security Council

In accordance with rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite the representative of the Sudan to participate in this meeting. In accordance with rule 39 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite the following briefers to participate in this meeting: Ms. Rosemary DiCarlo, Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs; Ms. Edem Wosornu, Director of Operations and Advocacy, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs; and His Excellency Mr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas, High Representative for the Silencing the Guns Initiative of the African Union Commission. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. I give the floor to Ms. DiCarlo. Ms. DiCarlo: I thank you for the opportunity to address the Security Council, Madam President. It is crucial to keep the spotlight on the need to bring an immediate end to the war ravaging the Sudan and its people. The conflict started just over a year ago, when an outbreak of fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) brutally interrupted the political transition. Since then, the Sudanese people have endured intolerable suffering. Both parties have failed to protect civilians. More than 14,000 people have been killed and tens of thousands wounded. My colleague from the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Director Edem Wosornu, will expand on the humanitarian situation and needs, but I would like to cite just three appalling figures. Half of the country’s population — 25 million people  — need life-saving assistance, while more than 8.6 million have been forced to flee their homes, including 1.8 million refugees. Allegations of atrocities abound. There are reports of the widespread use of sexual violence as a weapon of war, the recruitment of children by parties to the conflict and the extensive use of torture and prolonged arbitrary detention by both parties. Thousands of homes, schools, hospitals and other essential civilian infrastructure have been destroyed. The war has wrecked large swathes of the country’s productive sectors, crippling the economy. Meanwhile, many media outlets and civil society organizations have been closed, while hundreds of human rights defenders and journalists have been forced to seek refuge abroad. In short, this is a crisis of epic proportions. It is also wholly human-made. The warring parties have ignored repeated calls to cease their hostilities, including from the Security Council. Instead, they have stepped up preparations for further fighting, with both the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF continuing their campaigns to recruit civilians. The conflict started in Khartoum but has since engulfed large parts of the country, and it continues to spread. In Darfur, recent reports indicate a possible imminent RSF attack on El Fasher, raising the spectre of a new front in the conflict. Clashes between the RSF and Sudanese Armed Forces- aligned members of the Joint Protection Forces have already erupted in Mellit, a strategic town to the north of El Fasher. Fighting in El Fasher could unleash bloody intercommunal strife throughout Darfur and would further impede the delivery of humanitarian aid in an area already on the brink of famine. Beyond Darfur, greater Khartoum continues to be the epicentre of fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF. Galvanized by recent gains, the Sudanese Armed Forces has intensified its aerial raids in Khartoum, the Kordofan regions and parts of Darfur. Clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF have also escalated in and around Gezira since the beginning of April. All warring parties must uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law and international human rights law and also adhere to the Jeddah Declaration of Commitment to Protect the Civilians of Sudan. I reiterate the Secretary-General’s call on all parties to exercise maximum restraint and avoid further bloodshed. But if the parties have been able to sustain their confrontation, it is in no small part thanks to the material support they receive from outside the Sudan. These external actors continue to flout the sanctions regime imposed by the Council to support a political settlement, thereby fuelling the conflict. That is illegal and immoral, and it must stop. At this critical moment, in addition to global support for aid, we must redouble our efforts to achieve peace in the Sudan. Over the past four months, the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General, Mr. Ramtane Lamamra, has engaged tirelessly with a broad variety of national, regional and international stakeholders to promote the coordination of mediation initiatives. Just yesterday he briefed the African Union Peace and Security Council. Today, we look forward to hearing from the Chairperson of the African Union High-level Panel, Mr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas. The United Nations stands ready to redouble efforts with its multilateral partners, including the African Union, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, the League of Arab States and key Member States and partners, to help to bring about a durable cessation of hostilities and an inclusive and effective international mediation effort. The Jeddah platform provides a promising vehicle for dialogue between the warring parties to achieve an agreement on a ceasefire and related transitional security arrangements. We hope that it will be reconvened in the coming weeks. A renewed push for peace also means continuing our work on the Sudan’s democratic transition by supporting and empowering civilians, including women’s rights groups and young people. We salute the efforts of the African Union and the European Union to support Sudanese civilians in coordinating a common position on an inclusive political transition in the Sudan. And we commend France, Germany and the European Union for hosting the recent Paris conference on the Sudan and welcome its outcomes, including the overwhelming support for humanitarian efforts. The conference emphasized the need for unity of purpose and action among peace initiatives on the Sudan. To that end, the Secretary- General’s Personal Envoy has proposed the convening of an inclusive meeting to develop a comprehensive mediation and peacemaking strategy. We must build on the momentum of the Paris conference to boost our efforts to help end the fighting and return the Sudan to a path towards inclusive democracy and recovery. That is a shared responsibility. We must spare no effort in supporting the Sudanese people in their aspirations for a peaceful and secure future.

I thank Ms. DiCarlo for her briefing. I now give the floor to Ms. Wosornu. Ms. Wosornu: It has been just over a year since the Sudan was plunged into an unthinkable catastrophe. On 15 April 2023 and the days that followed, the world watched in horror as Khartoum descended into conflict. Residential neighbourhoods became battlegrounds. Office buildings were engulfed in flames. Civilians fled the city, lugging whatever possessions they could carry. Little did we know then how much worse it would get — how fast and far the conflict would spread across the country, how starvation and disease would surge and more than 8.6 million people be forced to flee their homes, how reports of violations of international humanitarian law would skyrocket, how sexual violence against women and girls would become a widespread tool of war and how a generation of children would be traumatized and their future prospects stolen from them. One year on, the outlook for the people of the Sudan is bleak. The conflict continues to rage, and the risk of famine is here. I find it particularly distressing to see what has happened in the Sudan, given where the country was before this conflict started — a safe refuge for more than 1 million refugees and a regional hub for medical facilities and universities. So much of that is now gone. Eight months ago (see S/PV.9394), the Council heeded our warnings about the catastrophic impact that an attack on El Fasher would have on the civilian population, and Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo has just alluded to that. Today that risk is once again becoming a reality. On 13 April, following weeks of rising tensions and air strikes — and almost one year to the day since the conflict began — militias affiliated with the Rapid Support Forces attacked and burned villages west of El Fasher. Since then, there have been continuing reports of clashes in the eastern and northern parts of the city, resulting in the displacement of more than 36,000 people. Médecins Sans Frontières reports that more than 100 trauma patients have arrived in their facility in El Fasher in the past few days, and the total number of civilian casualties is likely to be much higher. The violence poses an extreme and immediate danger to the 800,000 civilians who reside in El Fasher, and it risks triggering further violence in other parts of Darfur, where more than 9 million people are in dire need of humanitarian assistance. We want to reiterate our demand that the parties to the conflict respect their obligations under international humanitarian law. Sexual violence and other kinds of inhumane treatment are strictly prohibited. The parties must take constant care to spare civilians and civilian objects. We have made that call many times, but the reality is that far too often those obligations do not appear to be upheld. At the same time, we must also demand that the parties immediately stop the violence around El Fasher and elsewhere in the country. On Monday, as Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo mentioned, the international community came together in Paris for a humanitarian conference on the Sudan and the region. We would like to express our profound gratitude to the hosts for organizing the meeting and to all the Member States and regional organizations that participated. The event led to several urgently needed outcomes, a few of which I would like to share. First, it resulted in new pledges of funding for the humanitarian response in the Sudan and the refugee response in neighbouring countries  — pledges that must be disbursed as soon as possible. We have a very narrow window to respond, and that window is now. Within the next six weeks, we need to pre-position life-saving supplies before the rainy season starts in June. We need to get seeds into the hands of farmers before planting season in June, which is six weeks away, and cash into the pockets of displaced people before they fall even deeper into hunger. Every day that passes puts more lives at risk. As we warned in the Council on 20 March (see S/PV.9582), food insecurity in the Sudan has reached record levels, with the risk of famine now guiding the response. Let me reiterate that 18 million people are facing acute hunger, a number that is set to surge as the lean season fast approaches. Exactly one week ago, we launched a famine prevention plan. And on 17 April, we extended the system-wide scale-up declared by the Inter-Agency Standing Committee for a further three months. Secondly, the conference enabled us to take forward vital discussions on urgently required humanitarian access. As we previously briefed the Council — most recently last month — humanitarian access in parts of the Sudan is extremely challenging. The obstacles to access have made it almost impossible to move supplies to parts of Darfur and Khartoum, and whatever does get in is minuscule compared to the needs. In the past few days, the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in the Sudan, Ms. Clementine Nkweta-Salami, has outlined a series of key priorities for access. If we are to avert famine, which is an absolute necessity, the parties must take urgent steps to facilitate humanitarian relief for all civilians in need, as required under international humanitarian law. Humanitarians must be able to reach the communities affected wherever they are and through all possible routes. That includes cross-line access from Port Sudan, including into and out of El Fasher and Khartoum, and the southern route via Kosti and El Obeid. We also need the unimpeded and sustained use of the Tiné and Adré border crossings from Chad and the Renk, Aweil and Panakuach crossings from South Sudan. Travel authorizations must be expedited and granted within 24 hours. In the current situation — indeed, in any situation — it is unacceptable for an international inter-agency convoy to wait more than six weeks for approval. The parties must not instrumentalize, attack, impede or interfere with humanitarian operations. The looting of humanitarian supplies, especially in the areas under the control of the Rapid Support Forces, must stop. As a matter of urgency, we will continue to engage with the parties to make progress on those efforts, in coordination with all relevant stakeholders. Thirdly, as Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo said, Monday’s conference served to elevate much-needed international attention on the Sudan. For much of the past year, the conflict has remained out of the media spotlight, and violations often flourish in the shadows. There have been multiple reports of indiscriminate attacks by both the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces in densely populated areas, particularly the capital, Khartoum, as well as in Kordofan and Darfur, as reported by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. Extremely worrisome levels of conflict-related sexual violence continue to be reported  — again mainly in the areas controlled by the Rapid Support Forces. Aid workers, health workers and local volunteers are being killed, injured, harassed and arrested with impunity. We are concerned about the possibility that many more serious violations are going unreported, particularly with the telecommunications blackout that has been blanketing Khartoum, Darfur and other parts of the country since February. It has punished the population and severely hampered our ability to negotiate access to priority areas. We need a fundamental change in our support for the people of the Sudan. They cannot wait another month, another week or even another day — the suffering must stop. As I have outlined, I want to end with three things that we need now  — first, scaled-up action by the parties to protect civilians and facilitate humanitarian access; secondly, while we will gratefully accept the funds that were announced in Paris, we are asking for the quick disbursement of funds for the humanitarian response; and thirdly, more international engagement on the Sudan to silence the guns. From our end, we will continue to do everything we can. Later this month I will travel to the Sudan, together with nine emergency directors from other United Nations agencies and non-governmental organizations, to work with our teams to support the scaling up of the response. But we cannot do it alone. We need the Council’s help. Now is the time to act, before it is too late. Millions of lives depend on us.

I thank Ms. Wosornu for her briefing. I now give the floor to Mr. Chambas. Mr. Chambas: I thank the Security Council for inviting me, in my capacity as High Representative on Silencing the Guns in Africa and Chairperson of the African Union (AU) High-Level Panel on the Sudan, to brief the Council on the activities of the Panel aimed at silencing the guns in the Sudan and returning the country to peace. Other members of the High-Level Panel are Her Excellency Ms. Speciosa Wandira Kazibwe, former Vice-President of the Republic of Uganda and His Excellency Ambassador Francisco Caetano Madeira, former Head of the AU Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS). Exactly 10 years ago, I addressed the Security Council in my capacity at the time as the Joint Special Representative of the United Nations–African Union Hybrid Operation in Darfur to brief the Council on the progress of the Darfur peace process. I am once again addressing the Council today, albeit in a rather sombre mood, on the situation in the Sudan, where a devastating war is being fought by two entities that were entrusted with the responsibility of keeping the country and its people safe and secure but have turned their guns on each other and plunged the country into a ghastly theatre of war. That has set the country back several decades, and it will take more than a generation to rebuild the Sudan to its pre-war state. Thousands have been killed, millions have been displaced internally or as refugees in neighbouring countries, and vital strategic socioeconomic infrastructure has been wantonly destroyed. The Sudan’s prospects of attaining the Sustainable Development Goals or the goals of the African Union’s Agenda 2063 look utterly bleak, condemning millions of Sudanese to poverty and suffering for decades to come. It is particularly worrisome that the war has spread from Khartoum to other parts of the country, including the main agricultural production centre, El Gezira state, with all its implications for food production and farming, as Ms. Wosornu mentioned just before me. The enormous investments of the international community over the years aimed at bringing peace to Darfur have been hugely set back, as Darfur is once again witnessing ethnic cleansing and inter-ethnic conflict, as Under- Secretary-General DiCarlo just reminded us. So far, the efforts to mediate the crisis have not been successful. There have been several initiatives, including the Jeddah process, the neighbouring countries’ initiatives, the Egyptian initiative and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development initiative. Those efforts need effective coordination to achieve the goal of bringing peace to Sudan. External interference has also been a major factor compounding the obstacles both to negotiating a ceasefire and to stopping the war. As a matter of fact, external support in terms of supplies of war materiel and other means is the main reason why the war has lasted so long. It is the elephant in the room. The AU has been proactive in handling the war in the Sudan. Five days after it broke out, we called a meeting of key international actors and the Sudan’s neighbours to form what would later be called an expanded mechanism for the purpose of coordinating efforts on the Sudan. That was followed up in May 2023 with the development of the AU Roadmap for the Resolution of the Conflict in Sudan, which is widely seen as focusing on the essentials that should bring peace to the Sudan. The AU’s appointment of its own High-Level Panel on the Sudan in January was based on a decision of our Peace and Security Council and is designed to ensure that the AU has a focused approach to its mediation efforts in the Sudan. The Panel’s mandate is to engage the Sudanese actors, including the belligerents but also other civilian stakeholders, to implement the AU Roadmap. The Panel’s three-pronged approach to achieving its mandate is based, first, on shuttle diplomacy to countries in the region and beyond, with a view to seeking their support for the AU peace initiative and appealing to them to refrain from supporting any of the belligerents; secondly, on coordination with regional and international actors keen to find a solution to the Sudanese crisis; and thirdly, on organizing an all-inclusive political dialogue for the Sudanese that will prepare civilians for a post-war transition to democratic governance and perhaps also put pressure on the belligerents to stop the war. With regard to the area of shuttle diplomacy, in March the Panel embarked on two rounds of consultations, travelling to the Sudan and the neighbouring countries of Egypt, Ethiopia and Djibouti, where discussions were held with those countries’ respective authorities. The Panel held meetings with General Abdul Fattah Al-Burhan, the head of the Transitional Sovereign Council, and other Sudanese officials in Port Sudan. It also met with representatives of the leader of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), General Hamdan Dagalo, also known as Hemedti, in Addis Ababa. In each country, the Panel consulted with a broad spectrum of Sudanese stakeholders, political and civil leaders, including women and youth groups. In order to enhance coordination and the complementarity of efforts towards ending the current crisis in the Sudan, the high-level panel has consulted with critical stakeholders at the national, regional and international levels, including the expanded mechanism, IGAD, the League of Arab States and the United Nations through the Personal Envoy of the Secretary- General for the Sudan. They all pledged support for the work of the high-level panel and a strong desire to see the AU take a lead role in the context of finding an African solution to an African problem. It is reassuring that the recently held Paris humanitarian conference focused international attention on the dire humanitarian situation of the Sudan, but also recognized the important role that the high-level panel should play in coordinating the peace process. At the bilateral level, the high-level panel has held consultations with ambassadors and special envoys of the European Union, France, the United Kingdom and the United States, each of whom have welcomed the high-level panel’s establishment and offered to collaborate fully and closely with it. On the political dialogue, as a result of the consultations and the sensitization of Sudanese stakeholders during its visits, the high-level panel has covered sufficient ground in mobilizing and getting the buy-in of the Sudanese political and civil actors to organize the all-inclusive political dialogue that is Sudanese-owned and Sudanese-led. The political dialogue will be geared towards realizing both the resolution of the conflict in the Sudan and the subsequent return to a democratic civilian-led Government. It will be organized in two phases: a preliminary planning phase and the main political dialogue phase. On the way forward, the high-level panel will continue in the coming weeks with its outreach to authorities and Sudanese in neighbouring countries, in particular, South Sudan, Kenya and Uganda. The support of the Security Council for the work of the high- level panel will further enhance AU-United Nations collaboration in silencing the guns in the Sudan and giving the Sudanese people the opportunity to live once again in peace and dignity. The war has led to egregious violations of international human rights law, international humanitarian law and the laws governing the conduct of war. It must end. The Jeddah process must recommence speedily and with the full participation of the AU to bring about an unconditional ceasefire to end the suffering of the Sudanese people. For its part, the high-level panel plans to convene the preliminary planning phase of the political dialogue in May, next month. In that regard, the Council, indeed, the entire United Nations and the international community should throw their considerable weight behind that worthy African Union initiative in the quest for sustainable peace in the Sudan.

I thank Mr. Chambas for his briefing. I shall now give the floor to those members of the Council who wish to make statements. Dame Barbara Woodward (United Kingdom): Yet again, I thank Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo for her briefing and Director Wosornu for her briefing. And now I have the pleasure of thanking His Excellency Mr. Ibn Chambas, the High Representative for the Silencing the Guns Initiative of the African Union Commission, for his briefing and for underlining for us the value of African Union (AU)-Security Council cooperation. I would like to make three points that are grounded in the aspirations of the Sudanese people, the suffering they endure and their hopes for a peaceful future. First, this week marked five years since the Sudanese people demonstrated their aspirations for self-determination when their protests ended decades of dictatorship. Those hopes have been dashed by the Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese Armed Forces. Secondly, the Sudan is now in the grip of the world’s worst hunger and displacement crisis. Deliberate obstruction and targeting of aid convoys is preventing life-saving supplies from reaching those most in need. Civilians are being murdered. Women and girls are being raped. Villages are being looted and burned to the ground. Through resolution 2724 (2024), the Council joined the Secretary-General, the African Union and the League of Arab States to call on the warring parties to silence the guns during the holy month of Ramadan. But the warring parties ignored that united international call for peace and inflicted further hardship on the Sudanese people. The United Kingdom is also concerned by the growing tensions in El Fasher. The humanitarian consequences of full-scale conflict in and around the city would be catastrophic. We call on the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces and also armed movements present in the city to take measures to de-escalate, and we underline all parties’ obligations under international humanitarian law, including to protect civilians. Thirdly, it is not too late for the Sudan to return from the brink. For that to happen, we need, first, the warring parties to return to negotiations, including through the Jeddah process, to agree a durable ceasefire and support a political process designed to restore civilian rule. Secondly, the Sudanese authorities need to uphold their commitments to facilitate cross-line and cross- border humanitarian access and immediately restore the vital Adré border route. Thirdly, external actors providing materiel support to either warring faction are prolonging the bloodshed. Those who have influence with the warring parties need to use it constructively to bring them to the negotiating table. As we announced at the Paris conference, the United Kingdom will double its humanitarian aid to almost $110 million in the next year. But without sustained humanitarian access, it will not reach those most in need, nor help to avert famine. This anniversary is an unacceptable milestone in an unjustifiable conflict. We once again call on the warring parties to end the fighting now, to remove barriers to humanitarian delivery and to engage in a political process.

I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the three African members of the Security Council, namely, Mozambique, Sierra Leone and my own country, Algeria, as well as Guyana (A3+). First, we would like to thank Under-Secretary- General DiCarlo, High Representative for the Silencing the Guns Initiative of the African Union Commission Ibn Chambas and Director at the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Wosornu for their briefings. We wish also to welcome the Permanent Representative of the Sudan to this meeting. A year has passed since the conflict in the Sudan erupted, and here we are meeting today to discuss the situation again, while thousands of lives have been lost and millions have been forcibly displaced. Naturally, we would have been satisfied if our meeting today had been aimed at taking stock of the progress made in bringing the parties to the negotiating table, to assess the successful implementation of resolution 2724 (2024), or to discuss the way forward for the reconstruction of the country. Instead, we find ourselves compelled to reiterate our concern about the deteriorating security and humanitarian situation and to describe what is now the largest displacement crisis in the world. At this stage, we believe it is essential to ask ourselves some serious questions: How did we get to this point? What did not work correctly in the efforts deployed towards the peace process in the Sudan in recent years, particularly those of the United Nations? What lessons can we draw from the Council’s response to the crisis in the Sudan? Did we effectively engage with the Sudanese Government and take on board its views? After a year of this appalling situation, we need to find answers to those questions in order to engage better and to set the Sudan on a path to peace. The non-observance of the Ramadan ceasefire by the warring parties is regrettable, but we prefer to cling to the window of hope that the existing negotiation frameworks will soon bring tangible results. We urge the Council to continue signalling its strong support to that end. The upcoming round of the Jeddah process represents an opportunity that the Sudanese parties must seize, and they must participate in the negotiations in good faith. In that regard, we reiterate our appreciation to the co-facilitators of the process  — the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States, as well as the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, which also represents the African Union. So far, this process has been met with acceptance on the part of the main actors, and it needs to be preserved. We seize this opportunity to reiterate our call for coordinated diplomatic efforts, with the United Nations, the African Union, IGAD and the region, working hand in hand to address the persisting challenges. In that regard, we welcome the communiqué adopted by the African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council following its meeting yesterday on the Sudan, and we look forward to the AU playing an important role in finding a lasting solution to the conflict in the Sudan. We also take note of the convening, in Paris, of the international humanitarian conference for the Sudan and its neighbours and welcome the pledges made by international donors to mobilize more than $2 billion in order to alleviate the suffering of millions of displaced Sudanese. While we welcome those positive efforts, much more is required. According to OCHA, over $2.7 billion is required to address the humanitarian needs in the Sudan for the remainder of 2024. We therefore echo the many calls made by the Secretary-General to fully fund the humanitarian response plan to address the acute humanitarian situation, which has reached an unprecedented point of distress, with a high risk of food insecurity, widespread insecurity and flagrant human rights abuses, among other atrocities. The Sudan, which recently opened its doors and showed generosity to thousands of displaced people from the region, deserves our full support during these difficult times. It is never enough to call on external actors to abstain from interfering in the conflict in the Sudan. We recall that there is a sanctions regime in place and note its provisions regarding arms transfers. While reiterating our position that external interference must be publicly and firmly denounced, we strongly urge those involved to desist from such interference and to yield to dialogue, cooperation and adherence to international law. Before concluding, the A3+ wishes to underline several points. First, the Sudanese parties must now, more than ever, exercise restraint and reach agreement for the peaceful resolution of the conflict. Obviously, there can be no military solution to this conflict. Secondly, the Council has to learn from its past involvement in the Sudan in order to play a more constructive role in finding an effective and durable solution to the conflict in the Sudan. We need to lend an attentive ear to the Sudanese Government. Thirdly, inclusiveness and coordination must shape all initiatives undertaken by the international community and the Council concerning the Sudan. There should be no room for selectivity or double standards. Fourthly, we need to trust regional efforts and work towards ensuring the full ownership of a durable solution by the Sudanese themselves. Fifthly, we must ensure the protection of the most vulnerable, particularly women and children, and guaranteeing the unrestricted access of humanitarian assistance must remain paramount. The impact of the conflict in the Sudan is heavily felt in the region and needs concerted efforts to address its humanitarian and security effects. The Sudan is a nation that is dear to all of us. We cannot afford to be indifferent to what is happening there and should do our utmost to avoid a further escalation of the conflict. Peace must prevail in the Sudan.

I thank Under-Secretary- General Rosemary DiCarlo, Director Edem Wosornu and High Representative Mohamed Ibn Chambas for their briefings and welcome the representative of the Sudan to today’s meeting. The conflict in the Sudan has been grinding on for a year, with the fighting affecting the capital of Khartoum, Darfur, El Gezira state and many other places, resulting in large numbers of civilian casualties and people displaced. The way the situation is unfolding is extremely worrisome, and it is the shared responsibility of the international community to help the country restore peace as soon as possible. In the light of recent developments, I would like to make three points. First, it is imperative to put a ceasefire in place as soon as possible. On 8 March the Security Council adopted resolution 2724 (2024), calling for a ceasefire during the month of Ramadan and a sustainable settlement of the conflict. China notes the recent escalation of hostilities in El Fasher, which could lead to wider tribal clashes and other serious consequences. We call on the parties concerned to implement resolution 2724 (2024) effectively, work quickly to de-escalate the situation and do everything possible to avoid causing civilian casualties and to make civilian infrastructure safe and secure. Secretary-General Guterres has said repeatedly that a political settlement is the only way out of the crisis in the Sudan. We support the mediation role that his Personal Envoy, Mr. Ramtane Lamamra, is playing in promoting dialogue and negotiations between the relevant parties to address their differences and disagreements, with a view to steering a return to stability and normal order in the Sudan. It is important to note that the origins of the prolonged conflict in the Sudan can be traced to outside efforts to exert pressure, interfere and force a democratic transition. The international community should consider the lessons learned, respect the Sudan’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity and give due regard to the country’s views in its diplomatic efforts and in the convening of a conference on the Sudan, so as to avoid imposing its will on the country. Secondly, it is crucial to support the efforts of regional organizations. The African Union (AU) and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) have worked very hard to mediate in the question of the Sudan. China has taken note of the AU’s recently formed High-Level Panel on the Sudan, which has begun active shuttle diplomacy. We call on the international community and the United Nations to continue their efforts to support African solutions to African problems, as well as the important role played by the AU and IGAD. Countries from outside the region should respect the views of those in the region in carrying out their good offices with regard to the Sudan, with a view to strengthening their coordination in order to create synergies. At the same time, we continue to see spillover effects of the conflict in the Sudan emerging, with a bearing on the overall security of the region that requires serious vigilance. The countries of the region should uphold the concept of common security, strengthen dialogue and consultation and work together to address challenges such as the combatants’ cross-border activities, the proliferation of small and medium-sized weapons and the large numbers of refugees. Thirdly, it is essential to properly tackle the humanitarian crisis. As a result of the conflict in the Sudan, to date, 8 million people have been displaced, 18 million are dealing with severe food insecurity and 25 million are in need of urgent humanitarian assistance. The country is seriously lacking in the resources needed to cope with such an unprecedented humanitarian crisis, and the humanitarian response plan is only 6 per cent funded. That demands much greater attention and input on the part of the international community. China took note of the international humanitarian conference for the Sudan and neighbouring countries held recently in Paris, and we hope that the parties concerned will honour their pledges to contribute funds to alleviate the current humanitarian crisis. We welcome the efforts made by the Sudan to ensure humanitarian access, and we encourage all the parties to continue cooperating with the United Nations humanitarian operations. At the same time, the international humanitarian activities should be based on enhanced coordination with the Sudanese authorities, following the principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence and avoiding any politicization of humanitarian action. China has been providing multiple shipments of food and medical supplies to the Sudan through bilateral channels since the start of the conflict. We stand ready to work with the international community in improving the efforts to alleviate the humanitarian crisis and promote peace and stability in the Sudan.

I too would like to express our sincere thanks to Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo, Director Edem Wosornu and High Representative of the African Union Mohamed Ibn Chambas for their briefings today. The conflict in the Sudan has inflicted profound suffering on the people, with ramifications far beyond its borders. The reports and briefings paint a grim reality of widespread suffering, particularly among women and children, who are disproportionately affected by this catastrophic crisis. We want to once again remind the warring parties of their obligations under international humanitarian law and human rights law and the commitments to protecting civilians outlined in the Jeddah Declaration. The violence has claimed thousands of lives and had a devastating impact on survivors. The physical destruction is evident, but the less visible scars cut even deeper. Amid the chaos, the threat of famine is imminent, with more than 18 million people now facing acute hunger. We strongly condemn the use of starvation as a method of war, which is explicitly prohibited by international humanitarian law. We must do more collectively. I agree on that point with Ms. Wosornu. We thank the organizers of the international humanitarian conference for the Sudan and its neighbours for their role in providing a much-needed platform for boosting our collective humanitarian funding and advocating for aid access to prevent mass starvation. It has been a year marked by repeated calls for an immediate end to the hostilities, including an appeal from the Security Council, in its resolution 2724 (2024), for a cessation of hostilities during Ramadan. Regrettably, all pleas have been starkly disregarded. We cannot emphasize this enough — the relentless conflict must end. The parties must silence the guns, step away from the battlefield and engage in honest talks. As we have seen in many cases, achieving a political solution through inclusive dialogue is challenging, but it is the only viable path to peace and reconciliation. It is essential to include all segments of society, especially women and girls, in all peace efforts. Without their involvement, sustainable peace cannot be achieved. We hear Ms. Wosornu’s plea for increasing international engagement to silence the guns and we continue to support regional and international mediation efforts, including those by the Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy Ramtane Lamamra, and we agree with Mr. Chambas and emphasize the importance of complementarity and coordination among those efforts. We are hopeful about the potential for restarting the Jeddah talks and strongly urge both parties to engage in them in good faith. We reiterate our call for all external actors to refrain from any form of involvement that could exacerbate the conflict. Immediate, full and unhindered humanitarian access across borders and conflict lines is essential. That requires opening all logistical pathways by land, air and sea, as well as lifting all bureaucratic and administrative impediments, to ensure that aid can reach those in need without impediment. Humanitarian workers must be able to perform their life-saving missions safely and without obstruction. The renewed fighting around El Fasher is deeply concerning. As a safe haven for civilians and an indispensable humanitarian hub, El Fasher is crucial to providing life-saving assistance in an area that is already on the brink of famine. We urge all parties to refrain from further escalation. While the headlines focus on fighting and negotiations, the often-underreported plight of women and girls in the Sudan is growing more desperate. Sudanese women and girls are paying a heavy price and bearing the brunt of the humanitarian crisis. Beyond the inherent dangers of conflict and displacement, they face shocking levels of sexual and gender-based violence, including harassment, abduction, rape, sexual exploitation and trafficking, whether they are in conflict-affected areas within the Sudan, on the move or in countries of asylum. This gender crisis is so much more than a tally of casualties and statistics. Imagine the reality for a new mother in a Sudanese conflict zone, struggling to provide food for her infants, or a young girl whose entire future, including hopes and dreams of an education, has been shattered by the conflict. Despite their suffering, Sudanese women continue to support their families and communities with extraordinary resilience, including through life-saving grass-roots emergency response programmes. Allow me to conclude with a truth that all of us at this table know well. Violence is a choice, and peace is a choice. We stand firmly with the people of the Sudan and urge all the parties to the conflict to choose humanity and to choose peace.

I thank Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo, Director Wosornu and High Representative Chambas for their informative briefings and recognize the presence of the representative of the Sudan in this Chamber. Ecuador is distressed at the devastating consequences that a year of conflict has inflicted on the people of the Sudan and the surrounding region. The persistent armed violence has aggravated the humanitarian crisis and had a dangerous impact on the country’s social fabric. The conflict has claimed the lives of thousands of people, displaced more than 6 million internally and forced almost 2 million to seek refuge in neighbouring countries. The humanitarian impact is heartrending, with around 25 million people in need of urgent assistance, 18 million facing acute levels of food insecurity, and with women and girls particularly and disproportionately affected. The attacks on civilians and vital infrastructure, as well as the various kinds of restrictions on the work of humanitarian personnel, are reprehensible. It is imperative that the parties lay down their arms immediately, ensure the protection of civilians and comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law. Reports of the rape, sexual exploitation, abduction and captivity of Sudanese women and girls are alarming. The parties should immediately cease all forms of violence, especially sexual and gender-based violence, and it is critical that those responsible for serious human rights violations be brought to justice. We are also alarmed by the growing calls for arming civilians and the widespread mobilization campaigns among the population, which could lead to greater fragmentation of the country and deepen intracommunal tensions, further fuelling ethnic violence. The parties have an obligation to safeguard the safety of the civilian population and to comply with the Council’s resolutions, such as resolution 2724 (2024), which demanded a ceasefire during Ramadan. The failure to comply with that resolution speaks volumes about the parties’ conduct. My delegation recognizes Personal Envoy Lamamra’s leadership in the quest for a ceasefire agreement and a sustainable political solution through dialogue and with the support of international, regional and subregional partners. Likewise, we welcome the initiatives of the Jeddah talks, the recent Paris meeting and the continued engagement of the African Union, including yesterday’s announcement by the African Union Peace and Security Council, as well as the Intergovernmental Authority on Development and neighbouring countries, in their tireless efforts for peace in the Sudan. Ecuador believes that the full, equal and meaningful participation of Sudanese women is vital to reconstruction after the ravages of conflict. Their role is critical in restoring peace and stability in the region. In conclusion, peace cannot wait. The national efforts of the Sudan and its people need reinvigorated, complementary and inclusive international support in their transition to a full democracy and towards sustainable peace.

I thank Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo, Director Wosornu and High Representative Chambas for their informative briefings. I also welcome the Permanent Representative of the Sudan to this meeting. One year ago, two rival generals sent their armies into battle and set the Sudan on a path of death, destruction and devastation. Today the fighting continues to rage unabated. And as is true in any conflict, civilians have paid the heaviest price, especially women and children. We have all seen the reports of gang rape and mass murder at the hands of Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militias, of women and girls being sold into sexual slavery and boys forced to be child soldiers, of snipers indiscriminately targeting civilians and militias slaughtering entire villages in Darfur. War has turned the Sudan into a living hell. Nearly 25 million Sudanese people are in dire need of humanitarian assistance, and three quarters of them face acute food insecurity. Over the past 12 months, Sudanese civilians have borne the brunt of this needless and unconscionable conflict as the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF have denied civilian demands for peaceful, democratic civilian rule and driven one of the largest internal displacement crises in the world. And there are alarming reports indicating that an RSF attack on El Fasher, home to thousands of internally displaced persons, may be under way. The consequences of such an attack would be even more devastating for civilians and risk triggering more ethnically based atrocities and an expansion of conflict across all of Darfur. Let us be clear. The two warring generals who together led a military takeover in 2021, upending the Sudan’s democratic transition, are still standing in the way of a better future for the people of the Sudan. Today I say to them that they must end this senseless war once and for all. Clearly, further pursuit of outright military victory only adds to an already staggering human cost. We repeat the Council’s calls through resolution 2724 (2024) and urge the parties to immediately ensure unhindered humanitarian access, begin direct negotiations and cease hostilities. In that regard, we were pleased to note the plans for a resumption of talks in Jeddah by early May, under the facilitation of Saudi Arabia and the United States, along with Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development and the African Union. We call on both parties to negotiate in good faith and refrain from further offensives. The people of the Sudan need more humanitarian assistance, and they need it now. They are facing a crisis of epic proportions, with famine imminent. Yet humanitarian organizations have not been allowed to deliver much-needed aid. Unhindered humanitarian access must be allowed, full stop. Humanitarian personnel must not be targeted or harassed as they try to meet the critical needs of Sudanese civilians. Too many humanitarians have lost their lives in the Sudan. The United States is the largest donor of humanitarian aid to the response in the Sudan and its neighbours, and we have provided more than $1 billion since 2023, including our announcement on 15 April of an additional $100 million to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in the Sudan. We thank France for holding the Paris conference and welcome and applaud all donor pledges, and we urge United Nations humanitarian agencies to surge aid swiftly to the Sudanese who are in desperate need. The situation on the ground appears headed for a stalemate, or worse yet, a protracted conflict, fought among multiple armed groups increasingly across ethnic lines, spreading instability into the broader region. We should all be increasingly concerned about the potential for the collapse of the State in the Sudan and an expanded regional conflict. As a result, we should ramp up our pressure on the warring parties to negotiate. We call on regional Powers to immediately end the provision of weapons to the parties in the Sudan. Ultimately, the Sudan’s civilian population should define the Sudan’s path going forward and restore the democratic transition they began and sacrificed for. We will continue to support inclusive processes to prepare for that transition. But first the guns must be silenced and aid needs to reach those in need. To the people of the Sudan — the men, women, and children who are desperately seeking peace and security, a hot meal and a safe place to call home — I want them to know that they are not alone. The United States is their ally and advocate. We will continue to bring the world’s attention to their plight and work to hold those responsible to account. And we will continue to keep alive the spirit of democracy, freedom and peace that they have so bravely championed all these years.

I would like to thank Ms. Rosemary DiCarlo, Ms. Edem Wosornu and Mr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas for their briefings. A year has passed since the start of the conflict that is devastating Sudan  — a year in which tens of thousands of people have lost their lives and more than 8 million have been forcibly displaced. The ensuing displacement and violence have been particularly hard on children, 3 million of whom have been forced to leave their homes, and approximately 15 million of whom are dependent on humanitarian aid. Famine is looming, and more than a third of the population is food-insecure. The intensity of the fighting, the insecurity and the obstacles imposed by the parties are compromising access to humanitarian aid and its delivery. That is why France, together with the European Union and Germany, organized an international humanitarian conference in Paris on 15 April for the Sudan and its neighbours. The conference — held under the auspices of President Macron, with the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs in attendance, along with ministers and representatives of 58 countries, as well as the United Nations, regional organizations, non-governmental organizations and donors — enabled us to raise more than €2 billion in financial contributions, including almost €900 million from the European Union and its member States. France has pledged more than €110 million to meet the needs of people in the Sudan and neighbouring countries. The conference also led to the adoption of a declaration of principles by States and organizations involved in peace initiatives for the Sudan, with the aim of further coordinating their efforts. The declaration calls on the parties to cease hostilities and implement the commitments they undertook at the Jeddah talks. They need to urgently ensure full, safe and unhindered humanitarian access to all populations, both across borders and front lines. A political solution is more urgent than ever, as the conflict is a threat to the unity of the country and the stability of the region. The road to peace lies in an immediate cessation of hostilities and a resumption of talks as soon as possible. We welcomed the announcement in Paris on Monday that talks under the Jeddah process will resume within three weeks. We welcome the efforts made by the Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy, Mr. Ramtane Lamamra, to use his good offices with the warring parties, in conjunction with all regional and international actors, as well as civilian political organizations. We call on both belligerents to reject the logic of preconditions and curb the pressure from warmongers within their own ranks. It is also essential that foreign actors refrain from arming, financing or giving logistical support to the parties. I would like to point out that violating the arms embargo for Darfur is grounds for inclusion on the list of individuals subject to sanctions pursuant to resolution 1591 (2005). I would like to conclude by thanking all the participants who contributed to the success of the Paris conference. We succeeded in putting this crisis back at the top of the international agenda and taking concrete action by increasing funding for the United Nations humanitarian response plan tenfold, from 5 per cent to 50 per cent. We must remain engaged. France will continue to stand by the people of the Sudan to ensure that the hopes raised by the December 2018 revolution are not dashed forever. We will spare no effort to work for the return of peace and we will also remain active within the Council, which must act to guarantee humanitarian access and to advance political mediation. Let us join forces to prevent a second anniversary of the conflict in the Sudan.

We would like to thank Ms. Rosemary DiCarlo, Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, Ms. Edem Wosornu, Director of Operations of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, and Mr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas, High Representative of the African Union, for their briefings. We welcome the participation of the Permanent Representative of the Sudan in this meeting. The developments in the Sudan are seriously concerning. The intense fighting that has been going on since April 2023 has resulted in numerous casualties, including among the civilian population. The Sudan finds itself in very difficult humanitarian straits. According to various United Nations agencies, millions of Sudanese citizens are food-insecure for a number of reasons. Nearly 11 million have been forced to flee their homes, and more than 9 million of them are now internally displaced. The Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, Egypt and South Sudan are also under severe strain. We are now seeing shortages of medicines. Almost three quarters of health facilities are non-functional, and two thirds of the population have no access to health care. There are reports of dangerous diseases spreading. The United Nations, the Security Council and other relevant bodies should take a balanced and constructive approach to the situation. It is counterproductive to downplay the role of the central authorities in addressing humanitarian issues for political reasons, including with regard to the issuance of permits for the cross-border delivery of humanitarian relief supplies, including for Darfur. Port Sudan’s engagement with the United Nations country team should be fully supported. I emphasize the importance of addressing any humanitarian issues that may arise through the central authorities. Politicizing the delivery of humanitarian assistance is unacceptable in the Sudan, as it is anywhere else. We noted the conclusion in Paris on 15 April of the international donor conference on the Sudan and welcomed the fact that pledges were made to fund humanitarian assistance for the Sudanese and to fund the humanitarian response plan for 2024. We hope it will work in practice. We regret, however, that despite the supposedly humanitarian nature of the conference, its hosts decided to give it a political tone and did so in their own way, by not inviting the Sudanese parties involved or those with real influence on the ground but only representatives of the Taqaddum coalition. On 8 March, the Security Council adopted resolution 2724 (2024), calling for the parties to the conflict to immediately cease hostilities during the month of Ramadan, but that did not bring about any changes. And it was unlikely to have done so, since it was largely a populist step that was not aimed at resolving the root causes of the current conflict. For that reason, the Russian Federation abstained in the voting on the resolution. Without a doubt, the Russian Federation calls on the parties to the conflict to show political will and take the necessary steps to end the armed confrontation, which is causing so much suffering to the civilian population of the Sudan. We believe that any disagreements can be resolved by the Sudanese themselves at the negotiations table without any external dictate on how to achieve that. Nonetheless, we understand that the reason the current acute phase of the conflict in the Sudan is not resolved is not because of the ambitions of the primary Sudanese stakeholders, but rather the inability or unwillingness to collectively assist the Sudanese in resolving the root causes in a way that is genuine rather than just for show. As the Secretary-General rightly pointed out in his 15 April press conference, what is happening in the Sudan is “more than just a conflict between two warring parties”. It has deep political and historical roots, and Sudanese society must analyse what has happened and draw lessons from the mistakes that were made. The conflict therefore also requires a comprehensive solution. An important stage after the cessation of hostilities should be finalizing the process of forming a unified Sudanese Armed Forces, which has never been done. The security sector is one of the pillars of any nation State. The preservation of State institutions is in the interest of Sudanese society, the region and all of us. Only then can we talk about the transfer of power to a civilian Government that is accepted by and enjoys the trust of all Sudanese and whose values and objectives resonate with the majority of the country’s population. We call on our Western colleagues to refrain from building up a distorted narrative that portrays the current situation in the Sudan as the result of the events of October 2021, which led to the resignation of the civilian Government. As the saying goes, if there are mice in the house, do not blame the cat for eating them. We believe that efforts should be focused on addressing the root causes of problems rather than their consequences. We call on our colleagues who consider themselves interested members of the Security Council not to oversimplify the situation in the Sudan. Their talk about two generals and a humanitarian crisis might impress journalists but will in no way help to solve the country’s problems. We stand convinced that there is no “magic” solution, let alone a swift one, even if one counts on one’s ability to exert pressure, impose unilateral sanctions or use similar instruments. We regret that at a certain stage the United Nations played that role as well through the United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in the Sudan, which supported a forced transfer of power from army leaders to political structures that do not have mass support in Sudanese society. We are convinced that a sustainable settlement can be achieved only through the resumption of inter-Sudanese dialogue. In order to make it inclusive, we believe it is important to involve all influential political forces and ethnic and religious groups in the Sudan, including prominent regional leaders. We believe that progress in that regard will help to achieve broad national consensus. Without that, centripetal tendencies could increase and threaten Sudanese statehood. That would be a tragedy for both the Sudan and its neighbours. We call on the Security Council to avoid any action that could aggravate those processes.

I wish to express my sincere appreciation to Under- Secretary-General DiCarlo, Director Wosornu and High Representative Chambas for their comprehensive briefings today. We also welcome the presence of the representative of the Republic of the Sudan. More than a year has passed since the outbreak of the conflict in the Sudan, marking a sombre anniversary for its people. Despite the adoption of resolution 2724 (2024) calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities during the month of Ramadan, the conflict has instead intensified, particularly in North Darfur and El Gezira state. We deeply regret that the Sudanese warring parties have failed to abide by the resolution. In addition, the humanitarian situation in the Sudan is now rapidly approaching a point of no return. As Director Wosornu pointed out, we are six weeks away from that point of no return, and the international community has an obligation to stop it. In the light of the grave circumstances, we commend France, Germany and the European Union for their leadership in co-hosting the international humanitarian conference for the Sudan and neighbouring countries in Paris on 15 April. The conference was instrumental in mobilizing international effort to address both the conflict and the resulting humanitarian crisis in the Sudan, with commitments from various countries, as well as international and regional organizations. The Republic of Korea strongly supports the declaration of principles adopted at the ministerial meeting held in conjunction with the conference and would like to highlight the following points. First, we strongly urge the Sudanese warring parties to silence the guns immediately — something that is truly desired by its people  — and abide by their commitments made in the Jeddah Declaration of Commitment to Protect the Civilians in the Sudan in May last year. We reiterate that there is no military solution to the conflict. The warring parties in the Sudan must put the interests of the Sudanese people first, recognizing the significant suffering and hardship caused by their ongoing conflict, including the world’s largest displacement crisis and acute food insecurity. We are also deeply concerned about continuing reports of conflict-related sexual and gender-based violence, particularly in Darfur, and call on all warring parties to take special measures to protect women and girls from such violence. Secondly, we call on the Sudanese warring parties to facilitate unfettered access to civilians in need of humanitarian assistance, in accordance with previous commitments in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and relevant international obligations. We recognize the efforts of the Sudanese Government to allow several limited cross-border access routes to provide much-needed humanitarian access to Darfur. However, further action is urgently needed. We urge the Sudanese authorities to ensure unfettered humanitarian access to reach all regions of the Sudan and call on all warring parties to faithfully implement the recommendations of the key asks on humanitarian access discussed at the Paris conference. The $2.2 billion pledged by a total of 33 donors at the Paris conference is a positive development, and the Republic of Korea is pleased to add its contribution to other donors’ efforts. However, without removing barriers to aid delivery, humanitarian assistance cannot reach those who need it most. Thirdly, we call on all regional and international actors to fully support a consolidated peace initiative for the Sudan, building on the Jeddah platform and other mediation efforts, as agreed at the Paris conference. We hope that the new round of the Jeddah talks will resume soon with the participation of all key actors who can play a constructive role in achieving an immediate cessation of hostilities in the Sudan. In addition, we commend the continued good offices and promotion of coordination of international mediation initiatives of the Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy Lamamra and will provide substantial support to his work. We sincerely hope for an early resumption of negotiations to facilitate an inclusive, Sudanese-led, Sudanese-owned political process towards the restoration of civilian rule. In doing so, the international community should support a more active engagement of the Sudanese civil society, including women’s rights groups, in the course of such a political process. Having achieved democratization after enduring a military dictatorship, the Republic of Korea deeply empathizes with the Sudanese people’s quest for democracy, which culminated in 2019. We remain steadfast in our commitment to support the democratic aspirations of the Sudanese people. While the ongoing conflict shows no signs of abating and the future looks bleak, we believe that the courage and determination of the Sudanese people will prevail. The most effective and reliable remedy for the myriad horrors caused by the conflict — from a food emergency to the potential collapse of the State — remains a stable ceasefire that could lead to a permanent cessation of hostilities.

I would like to thank Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo and Ms. Wosornu, Director of Operations and Advocacy of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, for their briefings. We would also like to thank Mr. Ibn Chambas, High Representative for the Silencing the Guns Initiative of the African Union (AU) Commission. A power struggle has led to a brutal conflict in the Sudan that has raged unabated for a year. It has created a humanitarian catastrophe that also affects neighbouring countries and the broader region. The conflict is marked by sexual violence against women and girls and large-scale ethnic attacks. We witnessed a year of mass forced displacement, and now a looming unprecedented famine. With the intensification of violence in recent days on the outskirts of El Fasher, the last humanitarian centre in Darfur and refuge for hundreds of thousands of displaced people, civilians are once again put in danger without any protection. In that connection, the Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide once again reminded us of the risks of genocide and related crimes. In that context, let me highlight three key messages. First, we reiterate our urgent appeal to the Sudanese Armed Forces, the Rapid Support Forces and to the other parties to silence the guns. Their struggle for power is a struggle against the civilian population and against their hope and determination to live in freedom and dignity. The belligerents have ignored the Security Council’s call for a humanitarian truce for the month of Ramadan. In doing so, they have ignored a binding Security Council resolution. It is unacceptable that civilians continue to suffer the consequences of this conflict. Respect for international humanitarian law and human rights is an obligation, not a choice. A halt to the fighting remains essential to meet the enormous protection needs. In that respect, we welcome the announcement that the Jeddah talks will resume in the coming weeks. We need all the diplomatic leverage we can muster to bring the parties back to the negotiating table, put an end to external actions likely to prolong the conflict and uphold the arms embargo. Secondly, the humanitarian situation, which is already one of the worst in the world is continuing to deteriorate. The international conference held in Paris this week raised more than $2 billion dollars. Switzerland welcomes this effort to refocus the international community’s attention and make urgent commitments. My country pledged an additional $21 million dollars for 2024, which will also contribute to the famine prevention response plan launched last week, which Ms. Wosornu spoke about earlier today. But money alone is not enough. Humanitarian aid is being deliberately withheld and access denied, leaving millions of vulnerable people on the brink of starvation. The parties have an urgent responsibility to allow rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access across borders and front lines, in accordance with resolution 2724 (2024). The protection of humanitarian personnel, including local organizations and volunteers, must also be ensured. Finally, we must seek a negotiated and lasting solution to this conflict. A concerted effort is needed for a credible and inclusive political process, as called for in the communiqué issued yesterday by the AU Peace and Security Council. In that context, we welcome the efforts of civilian actors to bring together diverse voices that are representative of the whole population in order to set common objectives for the future of the country. In a bid to strengthen joint action, we must also ensure the synergy of the diplomatic initiatives of regional and international players to find a peaceful solution. We fully support the Personal Envoy in his efforts to facilitate the achievement of that objective. After a year of violence and devastation, it is high time to put an end to this war. We reiterate that, as members of the Council, we must assume our responsibilities to that end.

I thank Under-Secretary- General DiCarlo, Director Wosornu and His Excellency Mr. Ibn Chambas for their briefings. I also welcome the representative of the Sudan. I would like to mention three points today. First, we deeply regret that the guns have not been silenced in the Sudan, even though a year has passed since the inception of the conflict and despite last month’s adoption in the Council, under Japan’s presidency, of resolution 2724 (2024), calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities during Ramadan. As the resolution states, a sustainable solution to the conflict must be sought through dialogue. Japan renews its strong call for the Sudanese Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces to stop fighting immediately. Both parties must seriously engage with international, regional and subregional efforts to resolve the conflict. Japan appreciates continued mediation efforts by the United States, Saudi Arabia, the African Union, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, Egypt and other countries of the region. Japan also supports the Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy, Mr. Ramtane Lamamra, and the use of his good offices to complement and coordinate those efforts. Japan also calls on all Member States to refrain from external interference that seeks to foment conflict and instability and reminds all parties to the conflict and Member States of their obligations to comply with the arms embargo measures, as stipulated in resolution 1556 (2004). In that vein, the mandate of the Panel of Experts of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1591 (2005), concerning the Sudan, which was renewed through resolution 2725 (2024), remains important. Secondly, the humanitarian situation will continue to deteriorate unless the conflict comes to an end. The civilian death toll, reports of sexual and gender-based violence and the number of people who have fled their homes in search of safety are on the rise. Last month the Council discussed that millions of people are now facing acute hunger (see S/PV.9582). Civilian objects, hospitals, aid convoys, workers and warehouses have been attacked. It is imperative to deliver humanitarian assistance to the 25 million Sudanese people in need. The warring parties must ensure full, rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access, including through cross-border and cross-line operations. At the same time, we remind the international community that the relevant response plans are significantly underfunded. Japan highly appreciates France, Germany and the European Union for hosting the international humanitarian conference for the Sudan and its neighbours. Japan has also contributed approximately $149 million since 2023 to support internally displaced persons, refugees and returnees in the Sudan and neighbouring countries. Thirdly, we express our deep concern about the regional impact of the conflict. Neighbouring countries such as, but not limited to, Chad and South Sudan are generously hosting increasing numbers of refugees and returnees coming from the Sudan. We must prevent the conflict from further destabilizing those nations and impacting wide areas stretching from the Horn of Africa to the east end of the Sahel region. In conclusion, I stress Japan’s unwavering commitment to the Sudanese people and their endeavour for peace.

I shall now make a statement in my capacity as the representative of Malta. I thank Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Director Wosornu and High Representative Chambas for their insightful remarks. I also welcome the Permanent Representative of the Sudan to this meeting. Untold suffering descended on the people of the Sudan a year ago. The country has become an epicentre of the largest displacement crisis in the world and is moving towards the brink of famine. The human cost behind this reckless war is staggering. We cannot, and must not, forget about the people of the Sudan and their plight. Malta strongly calls for an immediate and sustainable ceasefire and for full, rapid and unimpeded access for humanitarian relief. We deeply regret that those two calls have not been heeded by the parties. Instead of ending the violence, new hostilities are emerging in El Fasher in North Darfur, with credible threats of a Rapid Support Forces (RSF) siege that could result in horrific humanitarian consequences for the internally displaced persons present. In a war that has already killed thousands, we cannot afford devastation at a major United Nations humanitarian hub that distributes life-saving assistance across all five Darfur states. While cross-border operations from Chad to Darfur have proved vital, we recall the necessity of having multiple crossing points available, so that all 25 million people in need of life-saving assistance can be reached. Both the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF must allow for the scale-up of humanitarian operations. We remind all parties that denying or obstructing access to food, health care and relief items is a grave violation of international humanitarian law and may constitute a war crime. They have obligations under international humanitarian law, and we call on them to honour their mutually agreed commitments in Jeddah. The women and girls of the Sudan, and their relentless courage after surviving atrocities, deserve our attention. We strongly deplore conflict-related sexual violence, including rape, gang rape, attempted rape and other forms of sexual violence, including sexual exploitation and forced prostitution. It remains unacceptable that women and children are no longer safe, not even in their own homes. It is shocking that half of the incidents of sexual violence in Khartoum were perpetrated inside residences. In some cases, victims died as a result of injuries and lack of access to medical care. Those who survived face impediments when seeking justice. We urgently call for timely access to multisectoral services to be ensured for survivors, including medical care, psychosocial support and legal services, as well as the safety of survivors when reporting. Those responsible for ongoing atrocities and other violations of international humanitarian law must be held accountable, including through the work of the International Criminal Court in relation to Darfur. As the conflict deepens, a generation of Sudanese children continues to hang by a thread. Up to 730,000 children are projected to suffer from severe acute malnutrition, on top of disruptions to education. In just one year, the Sudan has seen the highest number of verified grave violations against children in more than a decade. We deeply condemn the recruitment of children, as reported in Darfur, Kordofan and Khartoum. We recall that the recruitment and use of children in hostilities constitutes a war crime. The flow of arms into the Sudan is in clear violation of the arms embargo. We call on all external actors to refrain from fuelling instability and to support efforts for a durable peace instead. A global response to the conflict requires a revived civilian-led approach. We reiterate our support for a concerted mediation platform, led by regional actors such as the African Union and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development and supported by the Council and Personal Envoy Lamamra. We thank France, Germany and the European Union for hosting this week’s international humanitarian conference for the Sudan and neighbouring countries, which mobilized a total of €2 billion. Joining those efforts, Malta has provided a financial contribution in support of the Common Humanitarian Fund for Sudan. It is now imperative that the scaled-up humanitarian response be accompanied by reinvigorated talks among the parties, including at the next round in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. To conclude, as we call for the silencing of the guns, we pay tribute to the resounding bravery of the Sudanese people, whose aspirations of stability, justice and peace remain loud and clear. We cannot and must not fail them. I now resume my functions as President of the Council. I give the floor to the representative of the Sudan.

At the outset, I would like to thank you, Madam President, and congratulate you on the Maltese presidency of the Security Council for the month of April. I would like also to thank Ms. Rosemary DiCarlo, Under-Secretary- General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, and Ms. Edem Wosornu, Director of Operations and Advocacy, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. We welcome her and her delegation in the Sudan and Port Sudan next week. We also thank Mr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas, who is well known in the Sudan, because he has already worked on the conflict in the Sudan as Head of the African Union High-level Implementation Panel for the Sudan. I thank them for their thorough briefings, for paying attention to the people of the Sudan and for supporting them in realizing their aspirations. In order to silence the guns, we need to diagnose the causes of the conflict. To that end, we refer to the important points that were made by Mr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas. He talked about an elephant in the room — however, there is not one single elephant, but several elephants in the room. The war that began in my country is the result of confusion and deliberate escalation by the militia of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and their political allies. That reached its peak in March 2023, when vassal forces from Darfur were sent to Khartoum, without the authorization of the Supreme Command of the Armed Forces. On 10 March 2023, tanks and armoured vehicles moved from northern Darfur and were deployed in Khartoum. In addition, more than 80 armed vehicles moved to the Merowe area without military authorization, and Egyptian officers were detained there. Those moves coincided with the insistence of external and internal parties on obstructing the reintegration plan, which was designed for a two- year period, in order to maintain an army parallel to the Sudanese Armed Forces. Moreover, there was a clear prominence of a political alliance related to the Framework Agreement that complemented those developments and relied on armed action and a military coup instead of political action. They received intense support from regional sponsors that aspire to control the Sudan and its resources. An expert in satellite imagery, which cannot be forged, confirmed the following. First, on 12, 13, 14 and 15 April 2023, 15 military armoured vehicles entered the operations headquarters, the former headquarters of the National Conference and the house of the RSF commander. On 12 and 13 April 2023, many other military armoured vehicles and equipment arrived there. Those locations are under the RSF control. Secondly, an unprecedented 60 armoured vehicles were located at the operations headquarters. Thirdly, on 14 April 2023, the total number of armoured vehicles in the Soba camps that are controlled by the RSF reached 58. Furthermore, the overall number in the four locations that are under RSF control reached 182 armoured vehicles. There are only two armoured vehicles and two tanks outside the guest house of the Sudanese President  — or rather, the President of the Transitional Sovereign Council, Lieutenant General Abdel-Fattah Al-Burhan Abdelrahman Al-Burhan. Members can therefore compare figures and see that a certain party is determined to seize power. Since we are talking about the situation one year after the outbreak of the war, it must be said that the war would not have taken place without the continued military and logistical support provided to the rebels and their allied militias by the United Arab Emirates, the regional sponsor of the armed aggression plot, who also provided them with political and media support. We have provided the Council with clear evidence and thorough information in our complaint that the Sudan submitted against the United Arab Emirates along with a report from the Panel of Experts of the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1591 (2005) concerning the Sudan. In fact, the actions of the United Arab Emirates are among the most important causes of the current military imbalance, which is not in favour of our armed forces in Darfur. In fact, United Nations human rights experts have noted brutal acts of rape and sexual violence against women by the Rapid Support Forces militias. In fact, hundreds of women were detained for the purposes of sexual exploitation, slavery and forced labour. There are also field reports that confirm those facts, issued by regional and local human rights organizations such as the Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa, the African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies, the Observatory for Human Rights, and the report by the UNITE to End Violence against Women Campaign issued in November 2023. In Gadarif, Sennar and Sinja, 267 cases of rape by the rebel militia were reported. Some of their leaders confirmed that through video footages and called for more acts of rape against Sudanese women to humiliate them. That is why, one year after a war of systematic aggression against the Sudan, its people, its Government, its armed forces, its women and its girls and boys, one of the demands by the Government of the Sudan and its people is to clearly name the sponsors of aggression. It is not enough to insinuate. The Algerian delegate, in his thorough statement today on behalf of the three African members of the Council plus Guyana, and in a previous meeting of the Council (see S/PV.9581), called for clearly naming and condemning the aggressors in order to stop the conflict. Council members call on the Sudan to fight impunity, but the Council must take a practical step to that end by condemning the provider of money, weapons and supplies. The Sudanese authorities, in accordance with decision 359 of 2014 by the Council of Ministers on the implementation of the Sudan’s commitments under resolution 1373 (2001), called for the designation of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) as a terrorist organization after 10 months of war waged by the rebel militias, with enough evidence. The most dangerous of their violations is against resolution 1540 (2004), adopted under Chapter VII of the Charter, on combating arms proliferation and nuclear and chemical weapons, as well as the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material, which the Sudan ratified in 1975. Materials for chemical and nuclear weapons must be possessed only by States and used for peaceful purposes. In fact, those militias use hospitals and health centres that contain radiological materials. They have occupied the radioactive waste centre in Soba, west of Khartoum. They also occupied the National Nuclear and Radiological Regulatory Authority. The Sudanese authorities are deeply concerned that relevant material has gone missing and been stolen by those militias. These are legitimate fears that have been expressed by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and there have been contacts between the IAEA and the Nuclear Regulatory Authority. The IAEA warned against the use of this material by foreign mercenaries, some of whom have been arrested while perpetrating military and terrorist acts and thus threatening international peace and security. In fact, that violation alone is reason enough to designate those militias as terrorist organizations. The Sudanese Centre for Counter-Terrorism Studies issued a report in April, entitled “Evidence and trends”, designating RSF as a terrorist group and supporting that designation with field evidence, documents, images and videos recorded by the rebels themselves, in addition to reports by competent authorities and presented by legal groups to the International Criminal Court. There are also the measures of the technical committee for the implementation of resolution 1267 (1999), not to mention General Assembly resolution 60/43 of 2005 on criminal acts to terrorize the public or specific groups for political purposes. International humanitarian law also prohibits the use of human shields and the kidnapping of hostages and killing of civilians. The Sudanese authorities have noted that the RSF militia has possessed and used FGM-148 Javelin anti-tank portable rockets. There is a video that has been broadly circulated showing that the militia used such rockets in Khartoum, near the general command headquarters. Last year, advanced rockets were found in RSF locations. Those weapons, as we said, did not fall from the sky, but were offered to the militia to undermine stability in the Sudan. The purpose of those weapons offered by the regional sponsors of the war is to tip the balance in favour of the militia. Those sponsors insist on continuing the war and secretly work against providing the Sudanese army with weapons. They covertly meet with RSF leaders. There is a major survey conducted by the Arab Center, by experts on journalism and public opinion, on the occasion of the first year of the Emirati aggression war, in which more than 50,000 people inside and outside of the Sudan participated. The results were as follows. Eighty-nine per cent believe that the RSF militia no longer has valid justifications for waging the war to restore democracy. I call on Council members to visit the Sudan and meet with Sudanese leaders, civilians, women and youth, as well as civilians fighting in support of the armed forces and ask them if there are Islamists who used to control the Sudan before the December 2018 revolution. After a year of fighting, 84 per cent believe that the operational military scale is in favour of the Sudanese Armed Forces, while 15 per cent believe otherwise. Fifty-seven per cent believe that the attacks on Atbara, Gadarif and other towns by RSF drones during the month of Ramadan aborted the Council’s demand to establish ceasefire during that month. That was a deliberate trend to widen the war in safe states. Sixty per cent believe that the end of the war requires military action by the armed forces, while only 7 per cent believe otherwise. Thirty-three per cent believe that an end to the war will require a political settlement and negotiated solutions. Sixty-nine per cent believe that the RSF cannot form a parallel civilian authority. Accordingly, with regard to the Paris conference and the States and organizations that participated in it, we thank them for their expression of interest and concern about the war of aggression in the Sudan and the resulting dire humanitarian situation. We also thank them for the pledges made at the conference, and we hope that those pledges will be fulfilled. However, we believe that the conference, in the form in which it was held, aimed to isolate the Sudan, with which some delegations here have called for greater communication, and in whose name the humanitarian conference was held. It thereby impedes efforts for a prompt solution to the war in the Sudan, even if it involves some neighbouring countries, including those that support the current war in the Sudan. Part of the conference’s paradoxical heritage is the fact that the aggressor States and their partners in the region were invited and that the victim State was excluded, which highlights the significant influence of the aggressor State and the national position of the country hosting the conference. That move aims to obscure the official viewpoint of the Sudan — whose sovereignty and territorial integrity were affirmed in the declaration issued by the conference — as part of a unilateral partisan narrative. Such conduct is ill suited to the gravity of the conflicts faced by the international community, which require an innovative approach to understand their root causes and avoid narratives molded by political partisanship in favour of one of the parties to the conflict. As for the African Union, the initiatives and experts of which we welcome, foremost among them Mr. Chambas, the Sudanese Government has remained open and has engaged constructively with all initiatives calling for a peaceful solution and dialogue, chief among them the Jeddah platform. However, the militia’s failure to uphold its commitment to implement the Jeddah declaration is a major obstacle to achieving a peaceful solution. There is a need to emphasize the implementation of the militia’s pledges to leave the homes of civilians, civilian objects and service facilities before participating in any other negotiating process. In an effort to find peaceful solutions, the President of the Transitional Sovereign Council, Lieutenant General Abdel-Fattah Al-Burhan, met twice with the delegation of the African Union High- level Implementation Panel on the Sudan, headed by Mr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas. He assured them that he was open to dialogue and cooperation with the African Union in all efforts to silence the guns in the Sudan and reach a solution to the conflict in the Sudan that preserves the country’s sovereignty and the citizens’ dignity and security. The Sudan trusts in the importance of the role that the African Union can play. That requires listening to the official Sudanese viewpoint with an open mind and an open heart and restoring the effective African role and voice of the organization, with which Sudan is cooperating in order to silence the guns. As for the pivotal issue  — the humanitarian issue — the Sudan has provided sufficient clarification on opening all crossings, including land, air and sea, to deliver relief to those in need. But has relief actually been delivered on the ground? Two weeks ago, a ship carrying 14,000 sacks of flour arrived under the supervision of the World Food Programme. No additional relief has been delivered to date. The decline in donor enthusiasm is evidenced by the record of pledges fulfilled. Nevertheless, we thank those States that have made humanitarian pledges and hope that they will fulfil them as soon as possible without politicization. Attempts to exploit humanitarian action to achieve political interests and national aims undermine the foundations of international humanitarian law. Ms. Salwa Adam, Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid, discussed with UNICEF officials in the Sudan the incident in which the RSF intercepted humanitarian aid trucks at the Mellit gate before entering El Fasher, as confirmed by UNICEF during the meeting. What matters is finding a way to stop the war and then responding to the humanitarian challenge. A lack of innovation has continued to characterize the multiple initiatives related to the Sudanese crisis. The Sudan will not cooperate with any party that seeks to internationalize the Sudanese conflict or use it as a political lever to pressure the Government of the Sudan. Democratic entitlements and the fulfilment of the demands of the December revolution remain priorities. Therefore, I would like to emphasize that the experiment involving what is known in Western academic circles as “stakeholder democracy” has failed in the Sudan, that true democracy decided at the ballot box is the goal demanded by the Sudanese people and the main goal of the December 2018 revolution, and that the Sudan cannot remain frozen for 10 years in a transitional system  — as stakeholders have demanded — during which period the rotation of power or the expansion of its base is prohibited, so as not to reproduce failed examples. The participation of the United Arab Emirates in any settlement process will lead to that settlement’s failure, because it is a State that has sponsored armed aggression and insists on supporting it. It must be deprived of any future role in the Sudan and of the dividends of peace. We have submitted a complaint to the Council, and we await its decision and action. The Sudan reiterates its commitment to fulfilling the pledges made through the Jeddah platform and to upholding the protection of civilians. The Council may have observed large segments of the urban population in Omdurman, eastern Sudan and Gezira chanting “one people, one army” and the popular involvement in defending the Sudan and repelling aggression. There are no restrictions whatsoever regarding the entry and distribution of relief aid, and we have explained that at length before. How did the United Nations manage to reach 8 million people with life-saving assistance if there were obstacles to humanitarian relief? That was confirmed by the statement of the Humanitarian Coordinator in the Sudan, Ms. Clementine Nkweta- Salami, on the occasion of the one-year anniversary of the conflict. We have the following demands. The question of the Sudan must not to be internationalized and solutions must not be imposed from abroad through multiple initiatives. That would confound the serious process of dealing with the crisis and negate the national ownership of the people of the Sudan in accepting the optimal solution. The African Union’s Silencing the Guns initiative must be supported. The Sudan has continued to engage actively with to the efforts of Mr. Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, who appointed a high-level committee to lead the Union’s efforts to support the resolution of the conflict in the Sudan. Efforts to stop the war must be supported. Those efforts and the attendant humanitarian relief must be separated from the inclusive political process related to the resumption of the democratic transition. In that regard, the Sudan is also cooperating with the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General for the Sudan, Mr. Ramtane Lamamra, in his quest to coordinate the multiple mediation initiatives. We demand that the United Arab Emirates, which is supplying weapons to the Rapid Support Forces, be condemned and that the Council adopt a resolution urging it to stop providing such support. Sudanese intelligence has spotted 1,200 armed vehicles that have now arrived in N’Djamena and will cross the border from Chad to the RSF-controlled El Geneina, at a time when the Government of Sudan has been trying to make El Fasher a major relief hub in Darfur. We therefore call on the Council to ask that State to stop stirring up unrest and displacing the Sudanese people. In that context, I would like to clarify that Iran has no role in the current war in the Sudan and that the restoration of diplomatic relations with that country does not pose any threat to Israel’s security. The Sudan welcomes every effort to stop the war, provided that such efforts are made in good faith, without hidden motives and within the framework of constructive cooperation and respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Sudan. The Jeddah platform must be supported as the only optimal platform, compared to other platforms. We await the outcome of Mr. Lamamra’s efforts to develop a joint action plan to unify all mediation efforts under the framework of quiet diplomacy to resolve the conflict. The Sudan adheres to the commitments made at the Jeddah platform on 11 May 2023. The Sudan thanks the countries that made financial pledges at the Paris conference and appreciates the significant contribution of the European Union and the contributions of Germany, the World Bank and other countries. We must put an end to the current paradox. Regional Powers must stop exploiting the current situation in the Sudan for their own interests. An end must also be put to the multiplicity of double standards. Closed political tracks and adherence to a rigid formula for the transitional crisis situation must be avoided. War has led to national realignment and to eliminating the politically motivated distrust between the civilian and military components. The European Union and the countries of the former quartet were not positive about merging the RSF with the national army. That issue was discussed with no less than 20 European envoys, but they did not mention the consequences of such a merger until that became one of the causes of the current war of aggression. Lastly, instead of sending biased messages, a more positive narrative must be conveyed. The fact that the Paris conference did not condemn the RSF atrocities, while certain countries continue to secretly communicate with those forces, encourages the militia to continue committing violations. The Sudan rejects the coexistence of two armies in the country, as authority and sovereignty are indivisible. Peace cannot be achieved while staying silent about the brutal atrocities committed by the militia, which is determined to expand the war by waging attacks against civilians as they break their fast during the month of Ramadan, against wedding gatherings and against worshippers in mosques. Discussing the political process before addressing the humanitarian situation and stopping the war is a harmful political paradox that will not lead to achieving peace. War sponsors and those who target peace deserve condemnation and denunciation in any peace process. That must be rectified first. The Sudanese people are ready for peace. They have the final say.