S/PV.9727 Security Council

On behalf of the Council, I would like to inform that, with regard to rule 37 and rule 39 of the provisional rules of procedure, the Council’s approach will be to consider only those participation requests that were submitted before the start of the meeting. 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. Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee, Assistant Secretary-General for Africa in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations; and Ms. Joyce Msuya, Acting Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. I would like to remind everyone that this is an official meeting of the Security Council. Being fully aware that today’s briefing is not easy for anyone in the Chamber, I would like to remind all participants and speakers in today’s discussion to engage in the meeting with the utmost respect and to observe appropriate standards of tone, wording and content in their remarks. I now give the floor to Ms. Pobee. Ms. Pobee: I thank you, Mr. President, for convening today’s meeting on the situation in the Sudan, following alarming reports of yet another escalation of fighting in El Fasher. This recent intensification is occurring as devastating clashes continue in many other parts of the Sudan, including around greater Khartoum and Sennar. Even while millions of lives are at risk across the Sudan, hundreds of thousands of civilians trapped in El Fasher are now at risk of the consequences of mass violence as fighting engulfs the city. It has further exposed the extremely vulnerable population, including internally displaced persons living in large camps near El Fasher. The violence has also affected health- care facilities. Open sources report that a fresh round of large-scale fighting broke out in El Fasher on 12 September. The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) launched a coordinated attack on the city from multiple directions. The Sudanese armed forces and affiliated armed movements reportedly repelled the attack in the hours and days that followed. The current wave of fighting marks the latest chapter of violence in El Fasher and occurs amid a months-long siege and attack on the city at the hands of the Rapid Support Forces. That has caused appalling levels of suffering for the civilian population, including famine conditions in Zamzam camp, south of El Fasher, among other locations. For months, international partners have engaged individually and collectively in trying to secure a de-escalation of the situation and prevent more suffering in El Fasher. The Council adopted resolution 2736 (2024), calling on the Rapid Support Forces to halt the siege of El Fasher and for an immediate end to the fighting. Yet, prevention efforts to avert further military escalation in El Fasher have failed. Hundreds of thousands of civilians remain trapped in the city and are at risk of mass violence. The stakes could not be higher. The risk of the escalation of fighting fuelling a dangerous ethnic dimension of this conflict is well known. So are the destabilizing effects for the entire region. The Secretary-General has consistently called on the parties to de-escalate the situation in El Fasher and spare civilians from further suffering. He has warned of the grave and unpredictable ramifications of an escalation. The Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General for the Sudan, Mr. Ramtane Lamamra, has directly engaged the belligerents, including during the proximity talks in Geneva in July, and supported the mediation efforts of the United States, Saudi Arabia and Switzerland in August. Mr. Lamamra most recently engaged with the Sudanese authorities during a visit to Port Sudan at the end of August, alongside the Deputy Secretary-General. The impetus underpinning the Organization’s collective efforts during this recent season of diplomacy has been to amplify the importance of the protection of civilians in El Fasher and across the entirety of the Sudan. The protection of civilians is the responsibility of the Government of the Sudan, first and foremost. However, it is incumbent upon all warring parties in the Sudan to respect and uphold their obligations under international human rights and humanitarian law. The Rapid Support Forces submitted a set of unilateral commitments to the Secretary-General on how to strengthen the protection of civilians pursuant to the conclusion of the proximity talks in Geneva in July, under the auspices of Personal Envoy Lamamra. The Rapid Support Forces must live up to their commitments and take steps to implement them without delay. An agreement of a ceasefire would be the single most effective way to strengthen civilian protection. That is true for El Fasher and all of the Sudan. However, progress in agreeing on a nationwide ceasefire and securing progress on other commitments, such as those in the Jeddah Declaration of Commitment to Protect the Civilians of Sudan, has proven difficult to achieve. Yet it is critical that the conflict parties take immediate action towards implementation of the Jeddah Declaration of Commitment to Protect the Civilians of Sudan, of 11 May 2023, in accordance with the respective resolutions of the Council. To that end, it is notable that the Aligned for Advancing Lifesaving and Peace in Sudan group, which met in Geneva last month, presented the conflict parties a proposal for a compliance mechanism to resolve disputes, receive complaints and address problems arising in relation to the implementation of commitments around the protection or civilians under existing agreements, including the Jeddah Declaration, and international humanitarian and human rights law. We urge the conflict parties to give serious consideration to that proposed modality. Efforts have also been made to explore possibilities for local ceasefires, including by drawing on local actors. Prior to the deterioration of the situation in El Fasher, a local ceasefire protected the city’s population for almost a year. A return to such an arrangement in El Fasher, and similar short-term solutions in other locations, must continue to be pursued. Besides calling on the parties to de-escalate the fighting in El Fasher, resolution 2736 (2024) also contains a request for the Secretary-General, in consultation with the Sudanese authorities and regional stakeholders, to make further recommendations for the protection of civilians in the Sudan. Work on those recommendations, informed by the outcomes of the proximity talks convened by Personal Envoy Lamamra and the Secretariat’s wide-ranging consultations with key stakeholders, is ongoing and will be presented to the Security Council in October. We take note of the Council’s recent adoption of resolution 2750 (2024), further extending the sanctions regime first established by resolution 1591 (2005). The conflict in the Sudan is not occurring in a vacuum; the flames of armed violence continue to be fanned by inflows of weapons to the Sudan. We call on all Member States to refrain from supplying arms to the Sudan and to observe the arms embargo for Darfur, in keeping with relevant Council resolutions. As the violence escalates in El Fasher and continues to spread across the Sudan, the risks of atrocities multiply, including egregious violence against women. Both the Sudanese armed forces and the RSF, and their respective allied groups and militias, continue to show complete disregard for international human rights and humanitarian law. Violations include summary executions, abductions and enforced disappearances and arbitrary and incommunicado detention of civilians by both parties, subjecting many to torture and other human rights violations. We are alarmed by the shrinking civic space as well as by the ethnically motivated attacks and hate speech and the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war. The prevailing impunity and lack of accountability are a major challenge in the Sudan. Human rights violations must stop. Perpetrators must be held accountable for their crimes. Immediate action is needed to halt the fighting in El Fasher. We urge members of the Security Council to employ their collective leverage to help protect the population caught up in the crossfire. The opening of the session of the General Assembly marks an additional opportunity for Member States and the United Nations alike to raise the profile of the escalating tragedy. Relevant external players must act responsibly and use their leverage over the warring parties to advance peace efforts. Personal Envoy Lamamra will continue coordinating international mediation efforts in the Sudan to promote dialogue to end the war, while advancing incremental progress on key issues such as a cessation of hostilities, the protection of civilians and humanitarian access. A dangerous new reality has now emerged in the wake of the El Fasher escalation, with grave and unpredictable ramifications. It risks a widening and entrenchment of the armed conflict, an even deeper ethnic polarization of Sudanese society and a further destabilization of the region. The United Nations remains committed to working with all relevant stakeholders to bring an end to the conflict, starting with an immediate cessation of hostilities.

I thank Ms. Pobee for her briefing. I now give the floor to Ms. Msuya. Ms. Msuya: I thank you, Mr. President, for this opportunity to brief the Council on the humanitarian situation in the Sudan. This brutal war has now lasted for 17 months, and there is no end in sight to the catastrophe. Ten months ago, we warned the Council of the catastrophic consequences of an attack on El Fasher  — a city of almost 1 million people, swelled with hundreds of thousands more, seeking shelter after fleeing violence elsewhere. Since April 2023, we have briefed the Council on the worrisome developments in El Fasher in no less than six meetings. And in June 2024, the Security Council called for an immediate halt to the fighting and for de-escalation in and around El Fasher in resolution 2736 (2024). Regrettably, those calls have not been heeded, and the humanitarian situation continues steadily to deteriorate. Since the end of last week, large scale-fighting in and around El Fasher has escalated. Shelling and aerial bombardment have been constant and heavy. Civilians, especially women and children, have been hit. Civilian sites and infrastructure, including hospitals and internally displaced persons’ camps, have been hit. The lives of hundreds of thousands of people, including more than 700,000 internally displaced persons in and around El Fasher, are under immediate threat. And our concern is mounting as we receive reports of intense shelling of central and western parts of El Fasher and the deployment of additional forces. The threats to life posed by the fighting in El Fasher are manifold. Parties to the conflict are making no efforts to protect health facilities or the civilians those facilities host. Hospitals and health facilities are being hit multiple times, rendering them non-operational. Of the three main hospitals in El Fasher, only one is functioning, although only partially, following an attack that caused extensive damage in August. The only dialysis centre in El Fasher and facilities vital for the vaccine cold chain have also been attacked. Severe hunger is a spiralling threat, with close to 1.7 million people in North Darfur facing acute food insecurity. In August, the Famine Review Committee confirmed that there is famine in Zamzam camp, a site hosting approximately half a million people, roughly 15 kilometres south of El Fasher. There are 13 other localities identified at risk of famine in North Darfur, including two other displacement sites. Members will recall that, in February 2024, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) reported that a child was dying in the Zamzam camp every two hours. The latest screening by MSF and the Ministry of Health between 1 and 5 September indicates that the situation is only getting worse. Approximately 34 per cent of children are malnourished, including 10 per cent who are severely malnourished. The situation is being compounded by almost impassable obstacles to the delivery of humanitarian relief. Since May, roads into Zamzam and El Fasher have been rendered inaccessible by fighting around the city and, more recently, by damage caused by heavy rains and floods. We have been repeatedly unsuccessful in our attempts to access the area. The presence of humanitarian workers and operations in El Fasher is extremely limited, save for those local humanitarians who have stayed behind to look after their families. An inter-agency assessment in Zamzam camp on 27 August led by partners revealed that assistance to people who have been newly displaced into the camp is very limited. There have been no international staff in El Fasher since April, and non-governmental programmes have been curtailed. But we are far from having given up. We are hoping that, as the flood water subsides in the coming weeks, we will be able to start moving supplies to El Fasher and other areas at risk of famine. In April, the World Food Programme was able to provide food and nutrition assistance in the camp. Further attempts to move food and health supplies in August were not possible owing to insecurity and flooding. To address the access challenges, the World Food Programme is already in the process of launching an operation to distribute food from commercial providers to directly affected people in Zamzam. They are planning to reach 179,000 people this month, complementing efforts to bring in food across the front lines and across borders. Regardless, the essential factors for effectively addressing this grave situation will be a de-escalation in the fighting and the willingness of the parties to facilitate safe access. Be in no doubt: without safe and predictable access and a steady supply of food and humanitarian supplies, we will see a dramatic spike in mortality, including among children, in Zamzam and other areas around El Fasher. The same goes for the situation across the Sudan. Khartoum, Sennar and Gezira all continue to be devastated by relentless violence. More than 8 million people have now been driven from their homes, and more than 2 million have fled over the border. The atrocious humanitarian situation calls for a rapid de-escalation in the conflict. We are therefore horrified by signs that the fighting will intensify as the rainy season draws to a close in the coming months, and we remain deeply troubled by the state of humanitarian access across the country. The re-opening of the Adré crossing from Chad has been a significant step. More than 100 trucks have so far crossed the border, with supplies for close to 300,000 people in West, Central and South Darfur. But the onward movement of supplies has been severely curtailed, including by damage caused by flooding and heavy rain. Only 55 trucks have reached their destination. A large-scale and unhindered humanitarian operation is required to save lives, and it is a matter of life and death. For that, it is vital that additional cross-border access be granted, including through the Aweil and Panakuach routes. It also requires immediate, safe cross-line access from Port Sudan to Gezira, Sennar, Khartoum, Darfur and Kordofan states through Dabbah, Shendi and Sennar. Too many people have already lost their lives in this senseless conflict. Many more will do so unless the Council and the international community at large take decisive action. First, I urge members to demand that the parties comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law and Security Council resolutions. We urge members to ensure that they do so. The parties must refrain from targeting civilians, civilian assets and essential facilities such as hospitals. They must allow the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian relief via all possible cross-line and cross-border routes, and they must facilitate safe passage for those fleeing the violence. Secondly, the world should not accept in El Fasher the atrocities that we witnessed in West Darfur. I call on Member States to put pressure on the parties to agree to a humanitarian pause to save lives, give civilians respite and allow us to deliver assistance. Thirdly, I call on donors to provide the much- needed resources to address this unprecedented crisis. As of 17 September, funding for the humanitarian appeal is at $1.3 billion — less than 50 per cent of our $2.7 billion request. Next week, dozens of world leaders will descend on New York for the opening of the General Assembly. Many are representatives of countries with influence on the parties in the Sudan. Surely that, and the multiple high-level meetings on the Sudan, will provide an unmissable opportunity to bring an end to this conflict and to demonstrate our solidarity with the people of the Sudan. Millions of lives depend on us — it is time to act.

I thank Ms. Msuya for her briefing. I shall now give the floor to those members of the Council who wish to make statements.

I thank Assistant Secretary-General Pobee and Acting Under-Secretary- General Msuya for briefing us today. The United Kingdom requested this Security Council meeting following the alarming reports of escalation around El Fasher. I would like to make three points. First, we strongly condemn the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) assault on El Fasher. We call on the RSF to halt its siege of the area and for an immediate end to the fighting. Aerial bombardments, shelling and other combat activity by the warring parties have resulted in yet further displacement and the destruction of critical infrastructure. We also call on States to refrain from enhancing either side’s fighting capability. All Member States have a responsibility to uphold the arms embargo, which the Council renewed just last week (see S/PV.9721). Secondly, it is imperative that the warring parties uphold their obligations under international law and that there be accountability for violations. The escalation around El Fasher clearly contravenes resolution 2736 (2024), agreed on by the Council in June. We must continue to send a clear message to the warring parties that we are watching closely. We also welcome the work of the Secretary-General under way to produce recommendations for the protection of civilians. Events in El Fasher emphasize the importance of that work. Thirdly, we underscore our concern about the humanitarian impact of the violence across the Sudan and its destabilizing effect on the region. More than 10 million people have already been displaced. As we heard, a new wave of violence will exacerbate that even further. The recent re-opening of Adré border crossing is an important step, but humanitarian access still desperately needs to be scaled up — both cross-border and across conflict lines. We must also ensure that access is not slowed down by bureaucratic impediments. We once again call on both warring parties to return to negotiations in good faith and to stop this senseless violence now.

I thank Assistant Secretary-General Pobee and Acting Under- Secretary-General Msuya for their briefings. I welcome the representative of the Sudan to today’s meeting. Last week, the Rapid Support Forces launched a large-scale attack on El Fasher. Since then, the situation on the ground has continued to escalate, leading to major civilian casualties and displacements, which exacerbate the already dire humanitarian crisis in the Sudan. We urge the parties concerned to effectively implement Security Council resolutions and to stop besieging and attacking El Fasher. We reiterate our call on the two parties to the conflict to exercise maximum restraint and calm and to take actions to cool down the situation as soon as possible, so as to prevent the further escalation of hostilities, which would lead to a wider and more serious catastrophe and destruction. China has been emphasizing that international humanitarian law is the bottom line that must be observed by all parties and that civilians and civilian facilities should not become military targets. It is deplorable that in various places, including El Fasher, refugee camps, hospitals and other infrastructure continue to come under fire and that crimes, including the looting of humanitarian supplies and sexual violence, are being committed frequently. China notes that the Government of the Sudan has repeatedly made commitments and taken measures with regard to protecting civilians. China calls on all parties to the conflict to effectively comply with international humanitarian law and to maximize the protection of civilians and the safeguarding of the basic rights of vulnerable groups, such as women and children. Alleviating the humanitarian crisis in the Sudan is an urgent task that needs our immediate attention. China appreciates the continued steadfastness of United Nations humanitarian agencies in an extremely dangerous and difficult environment. We welcome the recent initiatives by the Government to reopen aid routes, including Adré, and to facilitate the entry of humanitarian workers, and we encourage the Government to continue to strengthen its coordination and communication with the United Nations and to provide more support and guarantees for humanitarian operations to be carried out. The international community, especially traditional donors, must fully appreciate the gravity and urgency of the current humanitarian situation in the country and must provide more financial support for the humanitarian needs and response plan for the Sudan. At the same time, we must warn against the practice of politicizing humanitarian assistance, which should in no way be used as a tool for meddling in conflicts and seeking selfish gains. The conflict in the Sudan has been raging for more than 17 months, and as long as the fighting is ongoing, there can be no talk of guaranteeing security for civilians. The people of the Sudan have suffered far too much in this war and have waited far too long for peace to come. China supports all diplomatic efforts to promote the restoration of peace in the Sudan; supports the key role played by the United Nations, the African Union and countries of the region in mediation; and calls on countries with influence on both sides of the conflict to push them to return to the negotiating table and to find a political solution for a lasting ceasefire without delay. We hope that all parties will commit themselves to respecting the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of the Sudan and that they will play their part in bringing an early end to the fighting, with a view to easing the humanitarian crisis and restoring regional peace.

I thank Ms. Pobee and Ms. Msuya for sharing the alarming updates on the recent escalation of fighting in El Fasher, which has been under siege by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) for more than three months. We welcome the swift convening of the Security Council to address those developments. The scale of the suffering and destruction in El Fasher is beyond comprehension. Hundreds of thousands of civilians are facing intense violence, including sexual and gender-based violence, indiscriminate attacks, repeated displacement and the imminent risk of starvation, which has already been confirmed in the Zamzam camp — a camp for displaced persons which, as we have heard, is home to half a million people. Many of those who manage to escape the fighting are being exploited or raped or going missing while fleeing. We urgently reiterate our calls on the Sudanese armed forces and the RSF, and on all parties, to de-escalate and immediately cease hostilities. We call on the RSF to end the siege of El Fasher, as called for in resolution 2736 (2024). Similarly, we call on the Sudanese armed forces to refrain from resorting to aerial bombardments. Residential areas, markets, hospitals and internally displaced persons camps must stop being targeted. As the United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator stressed this weekend, there is no excuse for attacks on civilians. Such attacks are strictly prohibited by international humanitarian law and constitute war crimes. We once again call on all parties to comply with international humanitarian law and their own commitments, including those set forth in the Jeddah Declaration of Commitment to Protect the Civilians in the Sudan, in order to improve the protection of civilians and of those who are no longer involved in the conflict. I also refer to Ms. Pobee’s remarks in that regard. In addition, we call on all parties and all Member States to uphold the sanctions measures for Darfur, in particular the arms embargo, which the Council unanimously renewed last week. The cessation of hostilities, including through localized ceasefires or humanitarian pauses, is crucial to addressing the worsening of the humanitarian situation. We reiterate our call for all available routes to be opened, including across borders and front lines, in order to reach those in need. The severe flooding is complicating the delivery of humanitarian aid. The temporary opening of the Adré border is a promising first step. It is now essential to eliminate all bureaucratic obstacles in order to facilitate a rapid and unimpeded delivery. To that end, international humanitarian law also requires respecting and protecting humanitarian personnel, as reaffirmed by the Council in its adoption of resolution 2730 (2024). That is all the more essential now that the trucks carrying humanitarian goods are en route, in order for the aid to reach those in need of it. The human suffering does not end at El Fasher. Intense hostilities continue in other regions of Darfur and in Sennar and Khartoum. When the rainy season ends, we are likely to see a further acceleration of the fighting across the country and an increased risk of regionalization of the conflict. Almost 26 million people across the country are facing conditions of acute hunger and famine; more than 10 million are displaced, and the death toll is unknown. We have heard that time and again, but we must constantly remind ourselves of the magnitude of the hostilities. As the Security Council, we must continue to play an active role in promoting a peaceful resolution to this conflict.

We are grateful to the Assistant Secretary- General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs. Ms. Martha Pobee, and the Acting Under-Secretary- General for Humanitarian Affairs, Ms. Joyce Msuya, for their briefings. Unfortunately, the armed conflict in the Sudan is becoming protracted in nature. The country’s economic and social problems are mounting. International efforts to launch an intra-Sudanese peace process are stalling. In those circumstances, the warring parties are relying on the use of force to resolve the existing disputes. The humanitarian situation in the Sudan remains dire. Almost 75 per cent of health facilities are not working, there is a shortage of medicine and two thirds of the population do not have access to medical services. There are reports of serious diseases spreading across the country. The underfunding of the country’s humanitarian response plan, which is currently funded at less than 50 per cent, also remains a major challenge. At the same time, we have doubts about the accuracy of forecasts of an imminent famine in certain parts of the country, including in the Abu Shouk, Salam and Zamzam camps near El Fasher. It is important that humanitarian workers make objective assessments that are verified with the Sudanese authorities. Famine cannot be allowed to occur in the Sudan. Moreover, there is enough food in the country. The difficulties are related to food distribution in the country and, most important, an acute shortage of money among the population. We know that the humanitarian agencies working in the country have the appropriate tools to address the problem. At the same time, any humanitarian assistance should be provided solely in coordination with the country’s central authorities and factor in the true causes of the problems and realistic ways of solving them. In that connection, Russia welcomes the proactive decision of the Sudanese leadership to open the Adré border crossing with Chad on 15 August to allow the delivery of humanitarian aid to the civilian population. However, it is clear that the opening of that crossing was not the magic wand that, for months, a number of members of the Security Council had been assuring us that it would be. Moreover, according to information received from those working on the ground, virtually all of the aid that passes through Adré finds its way into the hands of the parties. We note the willingness to use the other routes proposed by the Sudanese leadership. I underscore that this decision represents yet further proof of Port Sudan’s constructive attitude towards cooperation  — something that should be supported and welcomed in every possible way. What are needed are not endless Security Council meetings, but a comprehensive approach and resources. The situation around the town of El Fasher, North Darfur, where fighting has resumed with renewed intensity, is not straightforward. We call on the warring parties to exercise restraint and comply with the rules of international humanitarian law. At the same time, it is important to bear in mind that, unlike the RSF rebels rampaging through the town, the Sudanese armed forces, with the support of local self-defence militias, are carrying out their operations there, performing the task of keeping civilians safe in an effort to bring stability back to North Darfur. Regardless of how any member of the Council views one side to the conflict or the other, it is a matter of principle that the current Government of the Sudan be the sole guarantor of the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the State. It is impossible not to recognize that. A swift cessation of hostilities is the priority. Once the acute phase of the conflict ends, the intra-Sudanese dialogue must resume without external interference. For it to be inclusive, all influential political forces and the main ethno-confessional groups in the country, including authoritative and regional leaders, must be involved in the process free from external dictates. I am convinced that the Sudanese people can, and must, resolve their internal problems for themselves. We support the efforts of the Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for the Sudan, Mr. Ramtane Lamamra, towards achieving peace and stability as soon as possible. We believe that efforts aimed at a rapprochement between the Sudanese adversaries should be carried out under the auspices of the United Nations, and that the various initiatives of individual States or regional associations should harmoniously complement them. For its part, Russia stands ready to assist in resolving the acute humanitarian crisis in the country and to engage in the post-conflict reconstruction of the Sudan’s civilian infrastructure.

I thank the United Kingdom for requesting this timely meeting, and I also thank Assistant Secretary-General Pobee and Acting Under- Secretary-General Msuya for their updates. Japan is alarmed by the recent reporting of the unprecedented escalation in and around El Fasher and its impact on the humanitarian situation. Today I would like to make four points. First, Japan urges the parties to expeditiously implement resolution 2736 (2024), which was adopted three months ago and calls for an immediate halt to the fighting and escalation in and around El Fasher. The resolution also demands that all parties ensure the protection of civilians in accordance with international human humanitarian law. Secondly, Japan is gravely concerned about the dire humanitarian situation, not just in North Darfur but in the Sudan as a whole. The spreading violence and continued violations of international law, including many cases of sexual and gender-based violence, remain extremely alarming. Japan is particularly concerned at the plausibly ongoing famine in Zamzam camp, as reported by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification last month, and requests the parties to allow and facilitate the full, rapid, safe, unhindered and sustained passage of humanitarian relief, including cross-border and cross-line access through all-season roads. In that vein, Japan welcomes the recent decision by the Government of the Sudan to open the Adré border crossing and facilitate access across the Dabbah road. Thirdly, Japan reiterates its strong call for the parties to immediately cease hostilities throughout the country and return to the table for serious negotiations. In that regard, Japan welcomes and supports the coordinated and complementary international and regional efforts led by the United Nations, the African Union, the Aligned for Advancing Lifesaving and Peace in Sudan group, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development and other mediators. Last but not least, Japan is concerned at consistent reports of the provision of military, logistical and financial support to the warring parties from outside of the country. Japan welcomes the unanimous renewal of the Sudan sanctions regime for another 12 months and thanks the United States for successfully leading the negotiations. Japan calls for the strict implementation of the arms embargo measures and reminds those who violate the measures that they themselves could be designated for targeted measures under that regime. In conclusion, Japan reiterates its strong commitment to the Sudanese people, who have paid such a heavy price for the ongoing conflict.

I thank Ms. Martha Pobee, Assistant Secretary- General for Africa, and Ms. Joyce Msuya, Acting Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, for their briefings. I acknowledge the presence of the representative of the Sudan in the Chamber. Ecuador condemns the attack and the ensuing massacre that occurred in recent days in El Fasher, which has been attributed to the Rapid Support Forces. The perpetrators cannot go unpunished. We cannot allow those atrocities to become normalized. Violence against the civilian population is a clear violation of international humanitarian law. Ecuador urges all parties to strictly comply with their obligations, which include protecting civilian infrastructure essential for humanitarian aid and vital services, ensuring the safety and freedom of movement of humanitarian workers in accordance with the Council’s resolutions — resolution 2730 (2024) included  — and ensuring that people fleeing conflict zones can do so in safety. The situation of women and girls in the Sudan is deplorable and, in particular, the use of sexual violence as a tactic of war is unacceptable. Resolution 2736 (2024) calls for an immediate ceasefire, the withdrawal of combatants, humanitarian access and the reopening of the Adré border crossing. The resolutions of the Security Council  — which, I underscore, are binding  — must be respected by the parties without delay. It is imperative that humanitarian corridors be kept open and that more of them be provided to ensure that aid reaches those most in need at this critical juncture. The unanimous adoption of resolution 2750 (2024) on sanctions in the Sudan is a significant step and sends a clear message and requires the cooperation of the entire international community for its implementation in pursuit of stability in the Sudan. In that regard, it is also imperative that all countries strictly comply with the arms embargo and refrain from external interference that could fuel the conflict. The time to silence the guns in the Sudan is now. Finally, Ecuador fully supports the work of the Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy, Mr. Ramtane Lamamra, as well as the various regional and international initiatives under way to achieve a peaceful resolution and a democratic transition in the Sudan.

I would like to thank Ms. Martha Pobee, Assistant Secretary-General for Africa, and Ms. Joyce Msuya, Acting Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, for their briefings. France remains extremely concerned about the situation in and around El Fasher. Clashes are exacerbating the already dire humanitarian situation in North Darfur. Hundreds of thousands of displaced people have taken refuge in the region and face the threat of famine, which has already been declared in Zamzam camp. On 13 June, the Council adopted resolution 2736 (2024), calling on the Rapid Support Forces to lift the siege on El Fasher and on all parties to the conflict to cease fighting in order to respond to the humanitarian emergency. Unfortunately, that resolution has not been respected, and the parties to the conflict continue to intensify strikes, including against civilian infrastructure and health centres. France calls on the parties to respect all provisions of resolution 2736 (2024) and all obligations under international humanitarian law and human rights law. Those imperatives were reiterated in the Declaration of Principles adopted on the margins of the Paris Conference on 15 April. The parties must allow the full, safe and unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid to all regions of the Sudan. The reopening of the Adré border crossing is good news, but it is essential that all humanitarian aid trucks be able to move freely and quickly. We call for it to remain open for the long term, as needs remain immense and obstacles numerous. France calls on the parties to engage in dialogue in order to achieve a ceasefire and a lasting political settlement to the conflict. We welcome all efforts to that end, especially those of the Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy, Mr. Ramtane Lamamra. In addition, all Member States must refrain from arming, financing or providing logistical support to the parties. France reiterates its commitment to the arms embargo on Darfur, pursuant to resolution 1556 (2004), and once again welcomes the unanimous renewal, on 11 September (see S/PV.9721), of the sanctions regime relating to the situation in Darfur, in accordance with resolution 1591 (2005). France will continue its efforts, following on from the humanitarian conference held in Paris in April, in order to help the population and contribute to restoring peace in the Sudan, with the full participation of civilians and Sudanese society, as a whole. This mobilization will continue next week with a ministerial meeting that we will be co-organizing on the margins of the General Assembly, together with Germany, the United States and the European Union.

I thank Assistant Secretary- General Pobee and Acting Under-Secretary-General Msuya for their sobering briefings. I also welcome the Permanent Representative of the Sudan to the Chamber today. Unprecedented suffering has reached El Fasher, in North Darfur, with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) launching an attack last weekend. We strongly condemn this large-scale escalation of fighting, which only brings further devastation to an already catastrophic situation. The Council has repeatedly called for a de-escalation, including through resolution 2736 (2024), with a direct demand to the RSF to halt its siege. We also demanded that all parties to the conflict ensure the protection of civilians, while recalling that civilians are protected under international humanitarian law. We convene today to reiterate that message. The carnage must stop. This escalation has brought renewed humanitarian suffering to the people of El Fasher. We deplore all direct attacks on civilians, their assets and essential critical infrastructure, such as hospitals and schools. The looting of humanitarian supplies, at a time when malnutrition rates are at an all-time high, is reprehensible. While we commend the Sudanese authorities for recently reopening the Adré border crossing to Darfur, we recall the importance of ensuring that this opening is conducted in line with humanitarian principles. In the blockaded Zamzam camp, we call on the RSF to immediately facilitate the delivery of essential supplies and food for its half a million residents. We therefore urge all parties to facilitate the full, rapid and unimpeded access of humanitarian relief across the Sudan and to cease any interference in humanitarian operations. We also call on the United Nations to look at every available option if the parties do not abide by their obligations to facilitate humanitarian aid. Malta condemns, in the strongest terms, the use of sexual and gender-based violence against women and girls in this conflict. We are horrified by reports of widespread rape, gang rape, attempted rape and other forms of sexual violence, including sexual exploitation and forced prostitution, especially those committed by the RSF against Masalit women. We emphasize the critical need for gender-responsive humanitarian action that addresses the specific needs of women and girls. We are also deeply concerned that the country is seeing the highest number of verified grave violations against children in more than a decade. We recall that the recruitment and use of children in hostilities constitutes a war crime. A child’s place must be in schools  — not on the battlefield. The situation is unacceptable. Accountability must lie at the heart of our efforts, which should include the work of the International Criminal Court in relation to Darfur and targeted sanctions under the sanctions regime established by resolution 1591 (2005), which was unanimously renewed by the Council last week (see S/PV.9721). It remains evident that the illicit flows of arms and weapons across the Sudan, particularly those fuelled by external actors, have prolonged the devastating conflict. We reiterate the Council’s urgent call for all Member States to refrain from such interference and to adhere to their obligations under the arms embargo. The engagement led by Personal Envoy Lamamra and supported by international partners, including at last month’s talks in Geneva, remains integral to our collective path towards a ceasefire in the Sudan. We stress that Sudanese women must be full and equal partners in all aspects of conflict resolution and peacebuilding. In conclusion, Malta supports all mediation efforts to bring this senseless war to an end. We emphasize the need for coordination between regional bodies, international partners and the United Nations in order to ensure lasting stability in the Sudan. A catastrophe, which is both human-made and entirely avoidable, is taking place in front of our eyes. We must not stand idle in the face of this violence and suffering. As we heard just now from our briefers, decisive Council action is needed. The people of the Sudan need us now more than ever.

I thank Assistant Secretary-General Pobee and Acting Under- Secretary-General Msuya for their briefings. The United States is deeply concerned about reports of a full-on assault and serious escalation in the months-long siege of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on El Fasher. We are appalled by reports of civilian deaths. The fighting is reportedly taking on an increasingly ethnic and tribal dimension, exacerbating the atrocity risk. We are equally alarmed that the Sudanese armed forces have responded with increased and widespread aerial bombardments of the area. And we remain gravely concerned about the plight of displaced Sudanese in nearby areas, such as Tawila, where health-care facilities are overwhelmed by those fleeing El Fasher and are unable to treat all those in need. This needless horror must stop. As President Biden stated yesterday, the United States calls on the Sudanese armed forces and the RSF to pull back their forces, facilitate unhindered humanitarian access and re-engage in negotiations to end this war. The RSF needs to immediately halt its attacks, and the Sudanese armed forces must end the indiscriminate bombing. That includes the widespread bombardment and targeting of schools, markets and hospitals, which destroy infrastructure and threaten civilian life. We are appalled by reports that fighting is taking place at or near hospitals and internally displaced persons’ camps. The people of Sudan have suffered enough — hundreds of thousands of people in Zamzam camp are facing famine, while millions more are on the brink of starvation. Yet the leaders of both factions choose to inflict even greater pain and suffering on the people of the Sudan. The RSF should fulfil its international law obligations and the commitments it made in Jeddah and Switzerland, including upholding a code of conduct and protecting civilians. That code of conduct includes a command directive to refrain from violence against women, attacks against civilians, exploitation at checkpoints and destruction of crops, and to comply with international humanitarian law and commitments under the Jeddah Declaration of May 2023. Building on the August talks of the Aligned for Advancing Lifesaving and Peace in Sudan group and the efforts of Special Envoy Lamamra, the United States calls on the parties to agree to a localized humanitarian pause for El Fasher and the surrounding areas, including the Zamzam internally displaced persons’ camp, to allow aid to surge in and innocent civilians to flee. The Council and the international community should join that effort. The people of the Sudan deserve safety, dignity and justice. The Security Council should continue to pressure the belligerents to end the violence, protect civilians and facilitate life-saving aid. And we must ensure that those responsible for atrocities and other abuses in the Sudan are held to account. As President Biden said: “Let it be clear — the United States will not abandon our commitment to the people of the Sudan, who deserve freedom, peace and justice. We call for all parties to the conflict to end the violence and refrain from fuelling it, for the future of the Sudan and for all of the Sudanese people.”

I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the three African members of the Security Council plus Guyana, namely, Mozambique, Sierra Leone and my country, Algeria (A3+). At the outset, we wish to thank the Assistant Secretary-General for Africa, Ms. Martha Pobee, and Ms. Joyce Msuya, Acting Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, for their briefings on the situation in the Sudan. We welcome the participation of the Permanent Representative of the Sudan in today’s meeting. More than 500 days have passed since the outbreak of the deadly conflict in the Sudan, a conflict that has claimed tens of thousands of lives and created the world’s largest hunger, protection and displacement crisis, affecting both the Sudan and neighbouring countries. Despite the numerous calls made by the Council for de-escalation and the protection of civilians, we are once again appalled by the reports of attacks on El Fasher conducted by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) against that North Darfur city, and against the Abu Shouk and Al-Salaam displacement camps. We firmly condemn those attacks perpetrated by the RSF. Civilians in North Darfur can no longer find a place to feel safe, to protect their children and to enjoy the fundamental right to a decent life. The use of heavy weaponry and the intensification of hostilities are reducing the city to rubble. Civilians are being put in danger daily by the RSF, which decided to launch renewed attacks against the city, now besieged for months. The A3+ reiterates the provisions of the recently adopted resolution 2736 (2024) that called on the RSF to halt their siege on El Fasher — a call that was flagrantly ignored. In a time of renewed hope for the improvement of the humanitarian situation, in particular following the decision by the Sudanese Government to reopen the Adré border crossing and the Dabbah road, we have been taken many steps back, following the latest attacks. Those renewed attacks are also worsening acute food insecurity levels, particularly within the internally displaced persons camp in Zamzam, where the rates of malnutrition are reaching unprecedented levels. We can no longer tolerate those violations of international law and international humanitarian law. We can no longer tolerate defiance of our resolutions, as illustrated by the RSF’s latest attacks. We can no longer tolerate seeing civilians under siege, while suffering malnutrition and unspeakable human rights violations. In that regard, we wish to underline the following points. First, there is a need to sustain the measures taken recently to facilitate humanitarian access to reach all affected civilians, including in El Fasher and its vicinity. Support for humanitarian efforts has to be increased by a continued scaling-up of the funding to the humanitarian response plan. Secondly, any approach to the protection of civilians must be comprehensive and fact-based. Naming and holding accountable the perpetrators of all types of violations, such as those repeatedly committed by the RSF, will be a good starting point for establishing the credibility of the approach. The protection of civilians will rely on continued peace and mediation efforts deployed by the United Nations, the African Union and international partners. We must continue to coordinate efforts that build on the achievements made by the Jeddah process and enhance the strategic engagements of conflict parties. In that regard, we reiterate the need for coordination that preserves the central role of the United Nations. Thirdly, the protection of civilians also means putting an end to external interference and the support provided by external actors to the belligerents in Darfur in direct violation of the arms embargo and the sanctions regime. Fourthly, ensuring that international law and human rights principles are respected by all the Sudanese parties, namely, the Sudanese armed forces and the RSF, is crucial. The repeated attacks by the RSF and their continued siege on El Fasher must be met with a firm response and clear accountability measures. We reaffirm the need for both parties to protect the women, girls, children and all vulnerable persons deeply affected by this protracted conflict. The incidence of sexual violence is especially abhorrent, and in that regard, the A3+ demands that the parties comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law. Peace must prevail in the Sudan.

We would like to extend our sincere appreciation to Assistant Secretary-General Pobee and Acting Under- Secretary-General Msuya for their sombre briefings. I also welcome the participation of the Permanent Representative of the Sudan in today’s meeting. Despite continued appeals by the Security Council, including through resolution 2736 (2024), we find it deeply frustrating that we must once again address the ongoing attacks by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in El Fasher. It is particularly appalling that the most recent intensification of attacks comes after the RSF commander issued a directive earlier this month to all his forces to strictly comply with international humanitarian law and ensure the protection of civilians. We again urge the RSF to immediately end its siege of, and the hostilities around, El Fasher and to ensure the protection of civilians and humanitarian access in accordance with its obligations under Security Council resolutions and its own commitments. With that in mind, I would like to highlight three key points. First, the Sudanese warring parties must not ignore the repeated calls of the international community to end this senseless conflict. It is an undeniable fact that the war is being perpetuated by internal and external actors who are pursuing vested interests and fuelling the destructive dynamic. Tragically, it is the vulnerable Sudanese that continue to bear the heaviest burden of this human-made crisis. The warring parties in the Sudan have a responsibility to immediately end the conflict and work towards realizing the aspirations of the Sudanese people for peace and prosperity. Secondly, external actors must refrain from any actions that exacerbate the conflict. While ongoing mediation efforts by external stakeholders are welcome, it is deeply concerning that reports continue to emerge of external actors fomenting instability in the Sudan. Such actors must engage in ways that contribute to durable peace in the Sudan. Thirdly, the Security Council must take concrete measures to address the situation. Unfortunately, the adoption of resolutions calling for the cessation of hostilities, on its own, has not yet delivered the desired outcomes. The Council should provide unified political support to the ongoing peace efforts and encourage further coordination among them. While we commend the efforts of the Aligned for Advancing Lifesaving and Peace in Sudan group and Personal Envoy Lamamra to facilitate progress on humanitarian access, we support their continued efforts to achieve more substantial progress on key issues, including a national cessation of hostilities and the protection of civilians. Moreover, the Council should work together to ensure the effective implementation of the renewed Sudan sanctions regime. It is time for the Security Council to demonstrate its commitment to taking concrete steps towards a resolution of the conflict in the Sudan. We stand ready to work with other Council members to address this critical challenge.

I shall now make a statement in my capacity as the representative of Slovenia. I would like to express my appreciation to Assistant Secretary-General Martha Pobee and Acting Under- Secretary-General Joyce Msuya for their profoundly sobering briefings today. Their reports serve as a stark reminder of the gravity of the situation before us. We firmly believe that today’s discussion is both urgent and critical. The staggering scale of destruction and human suffering in El Fasher and throughout the Sudan calls for a united voice — one that clearly demands de-escalation, stronger efforts to protect civilians and the immediate silencing of the guns. We cannot stand by and allow this human-made crisis to persist, with people continually denied food, medical care and the right to live in safety, peace and dignity. The situation in El Fasher must serve as a wake-up call. Slovenia strongly demands that the Rapid Support Forces immediately cease their attacks and siege on El Fasher. We also call on the Sudanese armed forces to halt the reported indiscriminate aerial bombardments. We stand behind the regional and international mediation efforts to ensure an immediate ceasefire and work towards a lasting political solution, particularly those led by the Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy, Mr. Lamamra. It is essential that all parties prioritize dialogue over violence. States with influence must bring the warring parties to the negotiating table. Now is the time to facilitate peace. The recently renewed United Nations arms embargo must be fully respected, and we must ensure its implementation. All external actors must resist the temptation to further fuel instability and instead focus on supporting a path towards peace. It is not only bullets and bombs that kill; it is also the absence of humanitarian access, leaving families to starve and children to die. The combination of conflict, massive displacement, starvation and the destruction of essential services, particularly water, sanitation, medical and educational facilities, in places such as El Fasher, but also many others across the Sudan, is intolerable. However, no humanitarian aid can replace the absolute need for a cessation of violence. There can be no sustainable solution without peace. We commend the reopening of the Adré border crossing and the Dabbah road, but those developments must be sustained and significantly expanded. Safe, rapid and unhindered access to all parts of the Sudan for humanitarian aid is essential. It is imperative that all parties prioritize cross-border and cross-line deliveries of humanitarian assistance and ease bureaucratic and administrative impediments. All parties must respect international law, including international humanitarian law and international human rights law, and cease using starvation as a method of warfare. There are far too many reports highlighting the horrors in the Sudan — in Darfur, Khartoum, Gezira, Sennar state and beyond. The recent report of the independent international fact-finding mission for the Sudan (A/HRC/57/23) reveals shocking testimonies, confirming that sexual and gender-based violence continues to be committed on a large scale across the Sudan. We fear that much of the true extent of those atrocities remains hidden, leaving the crisis largely in the shadows. The crimes are so horrific that silence is not an option. Those war crimes must not go unpunished, and perpetrators must be held accountable. The safety and dignity of victims and survivors must be central to every response. Without immediate de-escalation, the human catastrophe will worsen. In conclusion, Slovenia firmly calls for immediate de-escalation in the Sudan, and in particular in El Fasher. We cannot afford further delays; the guns must fall silent now. The Security Council must act, not to defend national or geopolitical interests but humanity itself. I resume my functions as President of the Council. I now give the floor to the representative of the Sudan.

I thank Ms. Martha Pobee, Assistant Secretary-General, and Ms. Joyce Msuya, Acting Under-Secretary-General, for their comprehensive briefings. I also thank all the delegations that expressed their concern about, and directly condemned the crimes and atrocities committed by, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in their recent attacks on El Fasher. I also thank in particular the representative of Algeria, Ambassador Amar Bendjama, for his statement on behalf of the three plus one African members of the Security Council. I would like to refer to the remarks made by the Deputy Permanent Representative of the United States of America, Mr. Robert Wood, concerning the statement issued by the President of the United States of America, President Joe Biden. I have received a press release from Mr. Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, Chairman of the Transitional Sovereign Council. He has asked me to convey to the Council that he has read President Biden’s statement and that he welcomes it on behalf of the Government and the people of the Sudan. He also welcomes President Biden’s expression of concern, appreciates the support of the United States for humanitarian efforts inside the Sudan and neighbouring countries and shares his concern about the human cost of the ongoing conflict. The Government of the Sudan is fully determined and committed to ending the suffering of the citizens, to ending the current conflict quickly and decisively and to ensuring the restoration of peace, security and stability throughout the country. The goal is not just to end the violence but to do so in a way that lays the foundation for a sustainable peace  — a peace that addresses the root causes of instability and promotes unity and reconciliation among all Sudanese over the long term. What President Biden mentioned about systematic and widespread attacks on El Fasher by the Rapid Support militia represents only a fraction of the atrocities committed by that criminal militia elsewhere in the Sudan. The Sudanese armed forces remain firmly committed to complying with the principles of international law and the customs of war, including the protection of civilians. The Sudanese Government remains open to all constructive efforts aimed at ending this destructive war. The Sudan stands ready to work with all international partners to achieve a peaceful solution that alleviates the suffering of our people and places the Sudan on the path to security and stability, the rule of law and the democratic transfer of power. The Chairman of the Transitional Sovereign Council looks forward to deepening those discussions with United States officials and others during his upcoming participation in the high-level segment of the General Assembly next week. Resolution 2736 (2024), adopted by the Council on 13 June, expressed grave concern about the spread of violence and about credible reports of ethnically motivated violence by the Rapid Support militia in and around El Fasher and El Geneina and about the militia firing rockets targeting populated areas, civilians, critical infrastructure and medical facilities. It demanded that the militia vacate the city of El Fasher and emphasized Sudanese-led and nationally owned peacebuilding and peacemaking efforts, empowering Sudanese elders and community leaders to reach local arrangements for de-escalation. The resolution called for the full implementation of the Jeddah declaration on the protection of civilians and the safe passage of humanitarian relief. The Sudanese Government committed to opening the nine crossings and the Adré crossing, despite its danger and security challenges. That allowed the RSF militia the opportunity to launch new intensive campaigns with the aim of gaining control over El Fasher. At the civilian level, prominent clans and tribes and their leaders in Kordofan, Darfur, White Nile and Gezira have resorted to preventing their sons from joining the militia or colluding with it in committing violations and atrocities. The tribes have taken their sons out of the militia, denounced its atrocities and declared their support for the Government and their adherence to the commitments undertaken under the Jeddah platform. The Government has not obstructed — and will not obstruct — humanitarian relief and instead has allowed it to cross into areas even where the militia is present, because there are Sudanese citizens there. Furthermore, the Government has engaged in diplomatic efforts without restriction or condition, hosted Mr. Lamamra and all senior United Nations officials and facilitated their acquisition of visas. It recently hosted Ms. Amina Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General, and her large delegation. All those actions clearly attest to the Sudan’s commitment to ending the war and to participating in United Nations and international diplomatic efforts. I would like to thank the Council for monitoring the violations perpetrated by the rebel forces that targeted citizens and public facilities in El Fasher during the past two months. It is very important for the Council to do so if it wants to send a strong message and impose sanctions on the militia. All of that constitute violations of resolution 2736 (2024). On 1 July, the militia launched heavy artillery shelling and launched drones targeting El Fasher neighbourhoods, markets and shelters for displaced people, killing a number of citizens and injuring more than 22 others, mostly women and children. The militia also targeted civilian neighbourhoods and service institutions with artillery at the Jabal Marra medical complex of the National Health Insurance Fund and caused significant damage to it and to El Fasher Teaching Hospital, civilian homes and shops in the city market. The militia also fired a number of rocket shells from launchers in the eastern direction of El Fasher city, targeting the southern sector, injuring a number of citizens. The militia attacked some villages east of the city of El Fasher, Dar al-Samiyat, in the areas of Um Kadwiya and Um Layouna, and burned the village of Getona Shin, where citizens and shops were looted and robbed in those villages. Some youth from the villages resisted them, confronting the militia using small arms. The militia responded with an intensive attack that led to the migration and displacement of citizens to the south-eastern areas of the region. The militia forces had gathered in the Um Kadweya area in previous periods and were joined by another group from the Argad Mararit area of the Kalamandu locality. The militia then fired rocket launchers at the sixth Division Command in El Fasher, the Legislative Council, the new El Fasher Hospital and civilian neighbourhoods. The rebel militia fired mortar shells at the Abu Shouk camp for displaced persons in El Fasher. The militia is trying to displace citizens in order to be able to infiltrate the camp, which has become a focal point for managing operations in the northern sector. The militia fired 24 rocket launchers, a number of which fell near El Fasher Airport. It targeted the cattle market with rockets and the Al-Thawra neighbourhood south of the first and Radeef districts. As a result, more than 50 people were killed or injured, and the shops in the market were destroyed. The militia also attacked Nabd Al-Hayat Hospital, which is located in the El Fasher Grand Market, using drones. The RSF militia started targeting civilian objects, markets, neighbourhoods and hospitals with heavy artillery, which led to a large displacement movement among citizens to Zamzam camp and some villages in the Golo, Shaqra and Tawila localities. At the end of July, the rebel militia fired a number of shells from D30 Howitzer at the intelligence building in El Fasher, destroying a number of offices. It also fired 12 shells from a D30 Howitzer, a number of which landed north of the sixth division. The militia fired Howitzer shells towards the shelters in Shala area, west of El Fasher, killing a number of children. The militia carried out shelling operations on El Fasher, targeting residential neighbourhoods, Abu Shouk camp and markets, killing 15 civilians. The militia also shelled the Al-Thawra neighbourhood and fired a number of Howitzer shells at the south- east neighbourhoods of the city of El Fasher, as well as the south of the city. The militia destroyed mosques and shelled El Fasher South Hospital, wounding many citizens. With the support of the Rapid Support militia, the Orbani Arab groups attacked Deir Silik south of Zamzam refugee camp, driving out some people there. The Arab groups threatened the remaining residents to go back, in case they did not leave, and turned the area over to shepherds. At the end of August, the militia fired 15 artillery shells that destroyed a number of facilities and renewed its shelling at southern neighbourhoods of the city and its centre. On the next day, the militia also fired a number of Howitzer shells at the northern area, leading to the destruction of the South Desert College near Abu Shouk refugee camp, killing seven persons and injuring 22 others. The shelling also targeted also crop markets. Moreover, at the end of August, the militia once again bombarded the city of El Fasher, leaving many injured. After targeting the Abu Shouk refugee camp, many were displaced to Zamzam refugee camp, amid a dire humanitarian situation. On 31 August, the militia also fired a number of Howitzer shells at the Sub-Saharan Centre for Health Sciences in the city and bombarded El Fasher Grand Market with seven artillery shells. The Spanish Médecins Sans Frontières group reported that 20 armed men attacked a centre in the Kalakla area of Khartoum state, which is under the control of the Rapid Support militia, looting 400 litres of fuel, communication equipment and foodstuffs. The militia looted the equipment and devices of Ibn Sina Hospital in Khartoum and turned it into a military barracks. The militia manufactures Captagon narcotic pills in villages north of Khartoum and smuggles them to several countries. The militia looted 350 vehicles loaded with goods in Al-Andraba area of North Kordofan state and looted the property of citizens in the Dali area. The militia, backed by foreign mercenaries, has become a plague that must be contained to prevent it from spreading. A joint investigation by the British channel Sky News, The Washington Post, Le Monde and Lighthouse Reports has uncovered a pattern of ethnic cleansing, which is being systematically perpetrated by the militia, whose members chant “Victory for the Arabs”. That is a fever dream we revealed to Council members since the first days of the war of aggression in April and May. We have been saying that nomads are being displaced from the Sahel countries with the aim of establishing a promised State for them in the Sudan. Since the beginning of the war of aggression, Alex De Waal, expert on the Horn of Africa, has said that the Rapid Support Forces is becoming a private and cross-border mercenary establishment. Given its heavy losses of combatants, the militia has resorted to relying heavily on mercenaries and Arab elements from the Sahel and south of Libya. We have learned that a certain country wants to implicate them in the war of aggression, to eliminate them so that it can protect its strategic interests in that region. The international community refused to engage with Da’esh in Syria and Iraq as well as with Al-Qaida and Boko Haram. Why to impose that racial terrorist group on the Sudan and to reconcile with it? As The Economist magazine reported last week, that terrorist group has transformed the Sudan to a geopolitical ticking time bomb. Moreover, according to a report published by Amnesty International in July, the United Arab Emirates is supplying the Rapid Support militia with munitions and drones. The United Nations has obtained credible reports that note that much of the Rapid Support Forces political communications and operations are managed in the United Arab Emirates. The same thing was confirmed by Lord Browne of Ladyton from the Labour Party during a meeting at the House of Lords five days ago. He said that, by continuing support to the militia, the United Arab Emirates wants to turn the Sudan into a deadly battleground that will quickly spread to neighbouring countries, some of which support the militia and turn a blind eye to arms shipments being made under the cover of humanitarian aid. The Rapid Support militia embodies the ideology of Da’esh and other terrorist groups, their brutal violence against civilians, including women and girls, and the annihilation of others. During that meeting in the House of Lords, the Lord Bishop of Leeds echoed the Archbishop of the Sudan by saying, (spoke in English): “It is evident that elements associated with the RSF are seeking to kill Sudanese history, culture and identity in order to replace it with a different narrative [...] The Archbishop of Sudan, Ezekiel Kondo, saw everything in Khartoum destroyed by the RSF and escaped only with his life and the clothes he stood up in [...] His home was attacked by the RSF and all he had had been destroyed. He was beaten a number of times before being asked, ‘How do you want to die?’ He was rescued by a Muslim neighbour who hid him until he could escape and get to Port Sudan, mostly on foot [...] It was put to me that, when people need sanctuary, they do not flee to the open arms of the RSF or their controlled areas but to places controlled by the [Sudanese armed forces]. That is just a fact [...] The case put by the current Sudanese Government is clear. The international community — especially the [United Kingdom], as pen holder of the [United Nations], along with our deep connections with Sudan over decades — must work to stop the flow of arms and money to the RSF, particularly from the United Arab Emirates.” (spoke in Arabic) The armed forces are defending the city of El Fasher, which since May has been besieged by the militia, which disregard resolution 2736 (2024). The arms flow after the opening of the Adré crossing and the missile operations that targeted the city of El Fasher throughout the past days were supported by logistical and missile supplies, the shipments of which we referred to in a statement a few days ago about the request for sea shipments. During the Geneva negotiations, and before them the Jeddah platform in 2023, the Rapid Support militia undertook to honour its obligations and compel its fighters to abide by international humanitarian law. However, it continues to show savage videos on media platforms. Peace is not imposed by foreign alliances that do not want to heed to the voice of the Sudan. Peace emanates from within. The Rapid Support militia is collaborating with regional Powers  — which we have identified  — and international Powers that are using various pretexts based on protecting the interests of certain countries in the Sahel and in Chad and have called for the imposition of a comprehensive no-fly zone on the Sudan to help the Rapid Support militia to defeat the State. The militia is cooperating with those countries to expand the scope and intensity of rocket attacks in order to deliberately displace civilians. The Rapid Support militia is deliberately seeking to reduce agricultural production and supply chains as a political ploy to raise the cost of living. It seeks to establish starvation and destroy health facilities and hospitals to cause death for those who are not killed in rocket attacks. The militia is emptying Darfur of its inhabitants, particularly the Fur, the Zaghawa and the Massalit communities. The militia is using hunger as a weapon of war, carrying out ethnic cleansing in every respect and seeking to reverse the course of history. The Rapid Support militia has become a Frankenstein. I thank all the delegations that have condemned the Rapid Support Forces and stood with the Sudan and its people for peace.