S/PV.9869 Security Council

In accordance with rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite the representatives of Angola, Egypt, Kenya and the Sudan to participate in this meeting. In accordance with rule 39 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite Ms. Edem Wosornu, Director of Operations and Advocacy, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, to participate in this meeting. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. I now give the floor to Ms. Wosornu. Ms. Wosornu: Nearly two years of relentless conflict in the Sudan have inflicted immense suffering and turned parts of the country into a hellscape. Some of the human dimensions of this crisis bear repeating: more than 12 million people displaced, including 3.4 million people who have fled across the Sudan’s borders; more than half of the country — 24.6 million people — experiencing acute hunger; a collapse of health services; millions of traumatized children cut off from formal education; relentless patterns of sexual violence; and in several parts of the country, the already catastrophic situation of civilians has actually worsened since our last briefing to the Security Council, less than one month ago. Today I will focus on the most recent alarming developments in North Darfur, including the Zamzam displacement camp, in Khartoum and in the south of the country. In North Darfur, eight months after the Security Council adopted resolution 2736 (2024), civilians remain under attack. Violence in and around the Zamzam displacement camp, estimated to be hosting hundreds of thousands of civilians and where famine conditions have been confirmed, has further intensified. Satellite imagery confirms the use of heavy weaponry in and around Zamzam in recent weeks, and the destruction of the main market facilities within the camp. Terrified civilians, including humanitarian workers, were unable to leave the area when the fighting was most intense. Many were killed, including at least two humanitarian workers. On Monday, Médecins sans frontières (MSF), the main provider of health and nutrition services in Zamzam, announced that it has been forced to halt its operations in the camp owing to the deteriorating security situation. The World Food Programme has also just confirmed the suspension of voucher-based food assistance in the camp due to insecurity and the destruction of the market. Civilians also continue to be directly affected by ongoing fierce fighting in parts of Khartoum. The United Nations Human Rights Office has verified reports of summary executions of civilians in areas that have changed hands. We remain deeply concerned about the very serious risks faced by local responders and community volunteers in Khartoum and elsewhere. In the south of the country, we are receiving reports of fighting spreading into new areas in North Kordofan and South Kordofan, posing yet more risks for civilians and further complicating the movements of humanitarian personnel and supplies. We have also seen shocking reports of further atrocities in White Nile state, including a wave of attacks earlier this month reported to have killed scores of civilians. Last week, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Fletcher and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Grandi launched the 2025 response plans for the Sudan and the region. Together, these plans require $6 billion to support approximately 21 million people in the Sudan and up to 5 million others — primarily Sudanese refugees — in neighbouring countries. This is a staggering amount of money, larger than any United Nations- coordinated appeal in the history of the Sudan, but as Under-Secretary-General Fletcher said last week, this is a humanitarian crisis that is unprecedented in its scale and gravity. And it is a crisis that is increasingly crossing the Sudan’s borders. The international community, in particular members of the Council, must spare no effort in trying to mitigate this. Let me conclude with three key asks. First, on the protection of civilians, we call on the Security Council, and all Member States with influence, to take immediate action to ensure all actors comply with international humanitarian law and protect civilians and the infrastructure and services they so rely on. Civilians in Zamzam camp in North Darfur and elsewhere must be protected, whether they choose to stay or voluntarily move to safer areas. Across the country, attacks directed against civilians and attacks causing disproportionate civilian harm must stop immediately. We urge the Council to take up the recommendations for the protection of civilians issued by the Secretary- General last October (S/2024/759). Secondly, and equally important under international humanitarian law, there is the question of access. We need real implementation of the repeated commitments to facilitate and enable unhindered, unfettered humanitarian access to civilians in need. Thirdly, with regard to funding, as we have said, the scale of the Sudan’s needs is unprecedented and requires an equally unprecedented mobilization of international support, including flexible funding. We are grateful to the donors that have already announced financial commitments. And we are grateful to the donors for the support that they have given us thus far. The people of the Sudan deserve better, from their leaders and from the international community. We must also do much more to support the communities that have opened their doors to the millions of people who have had to flee, both within the Sudan and in neighbouring countries. Now more than ever, two years on, the people of the Sudan need the Council’s attention.

I thank Ms. Wosornu for her briefing. I shall now give the floor to those members of the Council who wish to make statements. Dame Barbara Woodward (United Kingdom): I would like to start by thanking Ms. Wosornu for her sobering briefing, and I would also like to pay tribute to the humanitarian organizations, including the United Nations and local actors, that are delivering life-saving services under extremely difficult conditions. And we take note of Ms. Wosornu’s response plan plea. It does not need to be this way. The parties to the conflict can take actions now to end the suffering, and I would like to highlight three priorities. First, we urge the parties to end their military ambitions and focus on creating the conditions for peace, including through full cooperation with United Nations and African Union mediation efforts. We share the Secretary-General’s deep concern at the announcement by the Rapid Support Forces and affiliated civilian actors and armed groups of a political charter that expresses an intention to establish a governing authority in areas of their control. Deepened divisions risk even further destabilization in the Sudan and the region. Respect for the Sudan’s rights under the Charter of the United Nations and for its unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity is vital and will be necessary for a sustainable end to this war. In April, my Foreign Secretary will invite Foreign Ministers from some 20 States and international organizations to London for discussions focused on supporting a peaceful way forward for the Sudanese people. Secondly, both parties must facilitate the rapid and unimpeded passage of humanitarian relief to people in need. The decision by the Sudanese Armed Forces to keep the Adré border crossing open is welcome. But with more than 30 million people in humanitarian need, it is simply not enough. We urge the Sudanese Armed Forces to open Adré permanently and authorize the use of further regional border crossings. We call on both sides to lift unnecessary bureaucratic impediments, which are delaying aid deliveries by weeks, and to provide humanitarian actors with security guarantees to operate safely. Thirdly, we reiterate the Council’s calls for the Rapid Support Forces to end their siege on El Fasher and cease all attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure. We call on both parties to protect civilians, in line with their obligations under the Jeddah Declaration. The parties to the conflict should act now to end this suffering.

I thank Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Director Wosornu for her comprehensive and sobering briefing. We also welcome the participation of the representatives of the Sudan, Angola, Kenya and Egypt in today’s meeting. At the outset, we are deeply appalled by the deliberate attacks on the Zamzam internally displaced persons camp and the report of ethnic cleansing in and around El Fasher by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). We are also extremely concerned by reports of reprisal attacks or summary executions of civilians under the control of each party to the conflict. It is deeply regrettable that repeated calls by the Council through several resolutions have still not been heeded. We urge all parties to the conflict to immediately cease hostilities, particularly in view of the upcoming holy month of Ramadan. We are particularly troubled that the signing by RSF and its allies of a political charter to form a governing authority last weekend in Kenya may signal the unfortunate prospect of division in the Sudan. Such a development would pose a serious threat to national unity and peaceful coexistence. There is a stark contradiction between RSF’s stated goal of forming a Government of peace and unity and its actions on the ground. In the light of that, countries concerned and regional and subregional organizations must intensify their efforts to prevent that concerning scenario from materializing. It is worth noting that the continued external supply of weapons enables a flawed strategic calculation by both parties that a military victory remains within reach. There are reports of the continued supply of sophisticated and advanced weapons systems by external actors. We urge them to immediately change course and refrain from exacerbating the conflict and deepening divisions within the Sudanese political landscape. Turning to the humanitarian situation and the protection of civilians, we commend the decision of the Sudanese authorities to extend access through the Adré border crossing, and we call for increased cooperation among the relevant United Nations agencies and both warring parties in humanitarian efforts. For our part, we provided $9 million in emergency humanitarian assistance to the Sudan last year and will continue our support this year. We encourage the international community to increase its support for local humanitarian initiatives, such as the Emergency Response Rooms in the Sudan. In addition, the Security Council must take action to establish the mechanism for the implementation of the Jeddah Declaration, including the protection of civilians, and continue its unified support for Mr. Lamamra’s efforts to engage with the warring parties and Sudanese civil society. As the devastating conflict in the Sudan has continued for nearly two years, the international community can no longer remain passive. The Republic of Korea remains steadfast in its commitment to work with the international community to alleviate the suffering of the Sudanese people.

I thank Director Wosornu for her sobering briefing. We are approaching two years of war in the Sudan, two years marked by attacks of shocking brutality, a catastrophe that has tragically become a daily reality for the people of the Sudan, in what has become one of the world’s most devastating humanitarian crises, as we just heard from the representative of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, a crisis in which violence, destruction and death have become the norm. I have three messages to share today. First, the conflict in the Sudan has caused a hunger, humanitarian and human rights catastrophe. Denmark condemns, in the strongest possible terms, the brutal attacks on civilians in White Nile state and the Rapid Support Forces’ attacks on the Zamzam internally displaced persons camp in North Darfur, the latest in a series of retaliatory attacks by the warring parties. Medical staff and hospitals have been targeted. The wilful obstruction of humanitarian aid has become the order of the day. There is an urgent need to scale up humanitarian assistance, including through the recently launched humanitarian needs and response plan and the regional refugee response plan. Denmark stands ready to continue to support. We call on all parties to ensure rapid, safe, unhindered and sustained humanitarian access across borders and front lines. We need to see a lifting of bureaucratic obstacles. The opening of the Adré border crossing for an additional three months is a positive development, but it is not enough. For our humanitarian assistance to be effective, it must be able to reach those in need. A collective political response to the crisis and a reset of the humanitarian response in the Sudan are needed without delay. Thirdly, this conflict will not be solved on the battlefield. An inclusive political solution to the war is needed. On that note, Denmark extends its appreciation for the good offices of Personal Envoy Lamamra. We also note the progress in setting up the African Union Peace and Security Council Ad Hoc Presidential Committee on the Sudan, under the leadership of President Museveni of Uganda. We look forward to any progress it might yield. We note with concern the recent announcement of an intention to establish a parallel governing authority. We emphasize the imperative of preserving the Sudan’s unity. Political dialogue is the only viable path to a peaceful settlement. Denmark therefore strongly calls on the parties to return to the negotiating table. We also call on those external actors that fuel the conflict to immediately cease doing so. In conclusion, in the immediate term, Ramadan presents an opportunity for respite in the Sudan, and we urge the parties to seize that opportunity. Now is the time for an immediate cessation of hostilities. Denmark stands ready to work with all members to make that happen.

I thank Director Wosornu for her remarks. I take serious note of her very sober briefing and her three requests. The ongoing war in the Sudan is catastrophic and the cause of the world’s largest humanitarian crisis. Its continued escalation is a threat to the stability and security of the region and beyond. The United States is focused on resolving that crisis. We cannot let the Sudan again become a permissive environment for terrorist and transnational criminal organizations. That would further undermine our shared interests and security in the Red Sea region. Massive refugee flows in the region are putting intense pressure on the economies and internal security of those countries hosting refugees. The United States continues to call on the Sudan’s warring parties to cease hostilities, allow unhindered humanitarian access and protect civilians. We have made clear to both sides our interest is the restoration of peace and an end to the conflict. Both belligerents have committed atrocities, and the perpetrators must be held accountable. All warring parties must protect civilians and allow unhindered humanitarian access. We are gravely concerned with the ongoing attacks by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on the Zamzam internally displaced persons camp in North Darfur and reports that militias allied with the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) are using civilians as human shields. We have urged the RSF to end its attacks on displaced civilians in Zamzam and urged the SAF to ensure civilians and humanitarian workers can move freely in and out of Zamzam. External support to the warring parties serves only to prolong the conflict. We support the restoration of civilian governance in a peaceful, unified Sudan. In that regard, we support efforts to promote a civilian political dialogue in order to foster a political process. This brutal conflict has caused the world’s largest humanitarian catastrophe, leaving more than 630,000 Sudanese experiencing the worst famine in the Sudan’s recent history, with more than 30 million people in need of humanitarian assistance, 12.5 million people displaced and tens of thousands dead. For that reason, the warring parties should facilitate the flow of aid across all border and cross-line routes to all parts of the Sudan. The humanitarian suffering in the Sudan demonstrates the importance of a swift and durable negotiated end to the conflict. Finally, the United States applauds the renewal of the Panel of Experts’ mandate. It is important that the Panel continue to monitor and report on all violations of the arms embargo.

I thank Ms. Wosornu for her briefing today. We have met many times to address the Sudan’s crisis and have received many distressing briefings. We have repeatedly called in this Chamber for an immediate end to hostilities and humanitarian relief. Yet our calls have gone unheeded, blatantly disregarded, even as violence continues to escalate, conflict-induced famine tightens its grip, people continue to suffer and die in this man-made crisis and the region slips further into instability. And just today we again received the distressing news that fighting in Zamzam had forced a pause in the much-needed distribution of life-saving assistance. Nearly two years of brutal conflict have pushed Sudanese people to the brink. Today I want to be clear — we will not stop calling for peace, the sanctity of human life and humanitarian assistance for all in need. We will continue to stand firm in the pursuit of justice in any circumstance. We will not stop calling for the Council to unite in moving beyond rhetoric to action, including by operationalizing the recommendations of the Secretary-General on protection measures for civilians. Today we again call on the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and their allied militias to silence their guns and pursue a durable ceasefire, paving the way for sustainable peace. We are deeply concerned about the announcement by the RSF and affiliated civilian actors and armed groups of the establishment of a separate government authority. Preserving the Sudan’s unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity is essential for long-term stability. We call on the warring parties to fully respect international humanitarian law and international human rights law and to honour the commitments they made in Jeddah. We call for an immediate end to the siege of El Fasher and Zamzam by the RSF. We call on all external actors to refrain from actions that fuel the conflict. We call on States to strictly respect and enforce the arms embargo and to stop the illicit flow of weapons. We stress the importance of protecting humanitarian and health workers and safeguarding civilians and critical civilian infrastructure. We call for full, safe, sustained and unhindered humanitarian access across borders and conflict lines. The crisis continues to generate unparalleled humanitarian needs. During every briefing, we are informed of more Sudanese being displaced, killed or wounded, more in need of food, water and medical care. Today I focus on the youngest among them. Sudanese children bear the brunt and are left with the deepest scars. Millions are exposed daily to the terror of the front lines and indiscriminate violence. No one can remain indifferent to the stark images of vulnerable children in conflict zones. Starved, frightened and weakened, those young lives plead for an end to the massacres, for the guns that keep them awake to be silenced and for the flow of arms that force them to flee to cease. And they ask for food.

I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the three African members of the Security Council plus one, namely, Guyana, Sierra Leone, Somalia and my own country, Algeria. We wish to thank Ms. Edem Wosornu for her briefing. We also welcome the participation of the representatives of the Sudan, Angola, Kenya and Egypt to this meeting. Almost two years have passed since the deadly conflict in the Sudan started. Civilians  — in particular children, women and girls  — continue to endure unspeakable violations, forced displacements and targeted killings, resulting in an alarming humanitarian crisis. In addition to the alarming security and humanitarian situation, the recent political developments in the Sudan are also a source of serious concern. In view of the concerning situation in the Sudan, we wish to underline the following points. First, we are deeply concerned that the parties seem more convinced that the solution to the conflict can be reached only through military means. We reiterate our call for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire to lay the foundations for an inclusive, meaningful, Sudanese-led and Sudanese-owned peace process that fully reflects the aspirations of the Sudanese people. We seize this opportunity to echo the Secretary-General’s call for all parties to observe a ceasefire during the holy month of Ramadan (see S/PV.9567). In that regard, we welcome the transition road map announced by the Government of the Sudan, which includes, among other steps, the formation of a civilian Government to be led by a civilian technocratic personality. We remain hopeful that the implementation of that road map will encompass all Sudanese actors, including Sudanese women and youth, to fulfil the crucial requirement of inclusiveness. However, we express our serious concern about the announcement by the leaders of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) alongside other movements and political factions about establishing a parallel authority in the Sudan. That is a dangerous step that fuels further fragmentation in the Sudan and derails the ongoing efforts towards peace and dialogue. We call for those actions to be reversed and urge the RSF and their allies to put the unity and national interest of the Sudan above all other considerations. Secondly, although the recent developments on the ground demonstrate a prevalence and heightened use of force, we reiterate our support for a diplomatic path to resolving the conflict, including to identify comprehensive and inclusive frameworks for dialogue between the Sudanese parties. The need to coordinate diplomatic initiatives cannot be overemphasized while preserving the central role of the African Union and the United Nations through the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General, Mr. Ramtane Lamamra. In that context, we believe that the Security Council should continue to urge the parties to take part in a second round of United Nations-facilitated proximity talks and honour the commitments they made in Jeddah through an agreed mechanism. The necessary bridges with the regional actors must be put in place to ensure coherent and coordinated action. The unity of our Council is needed more than ever to convey the right message, which takes into account the developments on the ground and the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Sudan. Foreign interference remains a persistent challenge in the search for a lasting solution to the conflict in the Sudan. We therefore reiterate our call for a firm and public condemnation of that interference and for strict compliance with the provisions of the existing sanctions regime and the arms embargo on the Darfur region. In conclusion, the Council and the international community must remain seized of the situation in the Sudan, with the sole objective of providing the needed support on the basis of good faith and the promotion of national ownership.

I thank the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Director, Ms. Edem Wosornu, for her sobering briefing on the situation on the ground in the Sudan. We welcome the participation of the Sudan, Angola, Kenya and Egypt in this meeting. Pakistan enjoys close fraternal relations with the Sudan. The people of Pakistan are deeply grieved by the current ordeal of our Sudanese brothers and sisters. The conflict has caused immense human suffering. Close to a quarter of the Sudan’s population — at least 12 million people — has been displaced. Three million have sought refuge in fragile neighbouring States. Millions face acute hunger. The crisis has serious implications beyond the Sudan’s borders. I wish to make the following points in relation to today’s agenda. First, Pakistan firmly upholds and supports the unity, independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Sudan. We condemn attempts at the establishment of a parallel Government in the Sudan, which are aimed at fragmenting the country. Any scheme that undermines the principles of the Charter of the United Nations will not yield a durable solution to the conflict and will further undermine regional and international peace and security. Secondly, we call for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire during the holy month of Ramadan. Both parties must respect the inviolability of human life during that blessed month. We should also look at how the United Nations and the Council can support the Sudan in protecting civilians, including through the national plan. Thirdly, violations of international humanitarian law must stop. The Jeddah Declaration of Commitment to Protect the Civilians of Sudan, which was agreed by both parties, must be implemented in letter and spirit. The perpetrators of crimes must be held accountable. We reiterate our condemnation of the Rapid Support Forces’ (RSF) attack last month on the only functioning hospital in besieged El Fasher, the Saudi teaching maternity hospital, which took more than 70 innocent lives. The RSF must immediately stop its killing campaigns in the Zamzam and Fourthly, the worsening food security situation in the country is alarming. More than 24.6 million people  — more than half the population  — face high levels of acute food insecurity. We encourage the international community to work with the Sudanese Government in addressing the humanitarian crisis in the country. We appreciate the steps taken by the Sudanese Government in opening additional air, sea and land borders for humanitarian aid delivery and in extending the Adré border crossing, which have brought some improvements in the humanitarian situation. The international community must also help to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in the Sudan by bridging the 36 per cent funding gap concerning humanitarian appeals relating to the Sudan. In 2025, the Sudan will need $4.2 billion to support nearly 21 million people. Lastly, Pakistan commends the efforts of the Personal Envoy of the Secretary- General, Mr. Lamamra, and encourages all parties to engage with him in good faith. We support various peace initiatives being taken to bring stability to the Sudan. Those initiatives must be consolidated in a manner that ensures that they complement each other, under the auspices of the United Nations and the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General. It is most important to have a political process that is inclusive and addresses comprehensively various dimensions of the situation. The United Nations should look at how we can support the political road map suggested by the Sudanese Government. Two years of continuous death and destruction have made it amply evident that there can be no victory on the battlefield in the Sudan. We call on the parties to implement an immediate, permanent and unconditional ceasefire and engage in dialogue to find a sustainable political solution for the sake of the Sudanese people.

I would like to express my gratitude to Director Wosornu for her very valuable insights and contribution, and I welcome the presence of the Ambassador of the Sudan and other colleagues at our meeting. Greece remains deeply concerned about the ongoing conflict in the Sudan, which continues to devastate civilians, threaten regional stability and obstruct peace efforts. We strongly condemn the intensified hostilities in Khartoum, El Gezira, Sennar and Darfur and call on all parties to commit to an immediate cessation of hostilities. I would like to reaffirm in the strongest terms Greece’s commitment to the Sudan’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity, while emphasizing the urgent need for an inclusive and sustainable political agreement that paves the way for long- term peace. We urge against any unilateral steps that undermine those principles and threaten the stability of the country. Attempts by the Rapid Support Forces to establish parallel structures in the Sudan must be averted. I would like to make three brief points. First, with regard to achieving a ceasefire and advancing a political solution, without an immediate cessation of hostilities, the Sudan’s humanitarian crisis will further escalate, jeopardizing regional stability and creating long-term consequences for neighbouring countries. A political solution is the only sustainable path forward. Greece fully endorses diplomatic initiatives that promote dialogue and mediation and recognizes the valuable efforts of the United Nations Personal Envoy, Mr. Lamamra, in facilitating peace discussions. Secondly, when it comes to ensuring unrestricted humanitarian access, it is imperative to remove all administrative and security restrictions that hinder Thirdly, we express our concern about the worsening situation of children in the Sudan. In 2024 alone, the United Nations verified more than 2,000 grave violations against children, Darfur being the most affected region. More than 1,000 children have been killed or maimed — an unprecedented toll. In that connection, we call on all parties to implement clear directives so as to prevent further violations against children and ensure an immediate withdrawal from schools and hospitals and to engage with the United Nations on action plans to end those grave violations. In conclusion, the link between conflict and humanitarian crisis is evident in the Sudan, and urgent international engagement is required to address that human- provoked crisis. I wish to express Greece’s unwavering support for, and solidarity with, the Sudanese people. At this critical moment, they need our collective commitment in order to alleviate their suffering and restore hope for a peaceful and stable future.

We thank Ms. Edem Wosornu, Director of Operations and Advocacy of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, for her briefing and welcome the representatives of the countries who have joined us. Today Panama stands before the Council with profound concern at the situation in the Sudan, which is facing a political, humanitarian and human rights crisis that demands immediate and united action on the part of international community. The Sudan is experiencing one of the most devastating conflicts of our time — a conflict that has left more than 30 million people trapped in violence, insecurity and extreme poverty. More than half of the population is acutely food insecure, and 11 million people, including 5.8 million children, have been displaced, giving rise to the largest child displacement crisis in the world. Recent reports confirm that the civilian population is trapped, with limited safety and escape options and in severe decline. Internally displaced persons camps, such as Zamzam camp, face imminent threats of famine, massacres and atrocities, while air strikes, kidnappings and human rights violations have become systematic practices. Gender violence has reached alarming levels. Women and girls are victims of sexual violence used as a weapon of war. Women face high maternal mortality rates in the most affected areas, and the destruction of hospitals and lack of medical care attest to the cruelty of the conflict. The violence has reached extremely serious levels — more than 2,000 grave crimes against children, including killing and maiming, have been documented recently. The prevailing violence against humanitarian personnel, the arbitrary detention of activists and the shrinking of spaces for safe participation by civil society, which faces pressing risks, are unacceptable. Panama echoes the words of the Secretary-General, who, at the recent African Union summit in Addis Ababa, stressed the need for an immediate cessation of hostilities, unrestricted humanitarian access and an end to the flow of weapons that are prolonging the conflict in the Sudan and threatening regional stability. On the other hand, the Jeddah Declaration, signed in May 2023, gave hope for the protection There is an urgent need to open a humanitarian corridor. The international community must ensure that humanitarian assistance reaches those in need of it and guarantee the protection of civilians, especially women, children and survivors of violence. Panama calls for immediate action to prevent further escalation of violence, and it demands that all actors involved in this conflict, including those supplying high-calibre weapons, cease attacks on the civilian population, respect humanitarian principles and international humanitarian law and comply fully with resolution 2736 (2024). Panama reaffirms its commitment to protecting the civilian population and strengthening international efforts to ensure a secure and stable future for the Sudan.

At the outset, I thank Ms. Edem Wosornu, Director of Operations and Advocacy at the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, for her briefing. I would then like to emphasize three points. First, as we just heard, the Sudan continues to endure one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world. That crisis is the direct result of the conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and their respective allies. In order to put an end to this unbearable human suffering, it is urgent that the parties conclude a ceasefire, as requested by the Council. Moreover, Member States must refrain from any action that would exacerbate tensions and fuel the conflict. Secondly, France reiterates its commitment to the unity and territorial integrity of Sudan. It supports the re-establishment of a credible and inclusive political transition towards a single, civilian-led Government. France takes note of the road map presented by the Sudanese authorities to restore a political transition at the end of the conflict. It reiterates the imperative of effective participation by all Sudanese political and social actors in a single process. France is concerned by the intentions expressed by the various political, social and armed actors to form Governments unilaterally. It calls on all Sudanese leaders not to aggravate the political, security and humanitarian crisis already affecting the country. It calls on all stakeholders to engage in good faith in the intra-Sudanese political framework facilitated by the African Union and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, which follows on from the seminar held on the margins of the Paris Conference in April 2024. Thirdly, there is an urgent need to act now to protect civilians, the primary victims of the conflict. France supports the calls of the African Union and the Secretary- General for a ceasefire during the month of Ramadan. The Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF must respect their obligations under international humanitarian law and international human rights law. France supports the establishment of a monitoring and verification mechanism to ensure the implementation of the commitments made in Jeddah. France commends the work of all humanitarian workers in the Sudan and calls on the parties to guarantee full, safe and unhindered access to the entire Sudanese territory, across borders and across the front lines. Humanitarian workers must be protected, in accordance with resolution 2730 (2024). France reiterates its full support for the efforts of the Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for the Sudan, Mr. Ramtane Lamamra, and for all national, regional and international initiatives to restore peace in the Sudan. As the fighting continues,

We are grateful to Ms. Edem Wosornu, Director of Operations of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, for her briefing. We welcome the Permanent Representative of Sudan Mr. Al-Harith Idriss Mohamed, as well as the representatives of Angola, Egypt and Kenya, who are participating in this meeting. Unfortunately, the armed conflict in the Sudan is rapidly approaching the three-year mark. Despite all the efforts undertaken by influential regional and international players and various mediation initiatives, it has not yet been possible to find a peaceful solution. As a result, there are growing economic and social problems, which are placing a very heavy burden on the Sudanese Government and neighbouring States. The situation is further compounded by documented cases of ethnic-based violence. We see the reason for that in the fact that not all members of the international community are united and genuine in trying to bring the long- awaited peace to the Sudanese people. At the same time, thanks to the efforts undertaken by the Sudanese authorities, the situation on the ground is being stabilized, slowly but surely. That has been helped, to a large degree, by what is being done by the national armed forces in terms of restoring order and returning individual cities and areas to normal life. Russia supports the steps taken by the army and the Transitional Sovereignty Council. We should also give credit to Port Sudan’s efforts to move the political process forward. We have taken note of the road map for a settlement published by the country’s leadership on 9 February. We believe that it contains the key elements that, if implemented, would ensure the transition to a peaceful life. We believe that all members of the Council could clearly demonstrate their intention to help to resolve the crisis by openly supporting that initiative. Against that background, we think that any parallel political steps that dilute this positive initiative by Port Sudan are unlikely to contribute to the normalization of the situation in the country. We believe that the path to successfully overcoming all of the challenges the Sudan is facing lies in maintaining its unity, territorial integrity and sovereignty, and the inviolability of its State institutions. The efforts undertaken on the United Nations platform here in New York to improve the humanitarian and food situation and ease the plight of civilians must first be well balanced and agreed upon with the current Government of the Sudan. We hope that the members of the Security Council are going to be guided by expediency and by the acceptability of any such initiatives to the Sudanese themselves. Only then can we expect the plans to reliably stabilize the situation in the country to be implemented. The humanitarian situation in the Sudan remains difficult. We understand that the United Nations country team in the Sudan and humanitarian partners have a wide range of urgent tasks in front of them. We believe that the most direct way to address them requires very close cooperation with the central Government of the country and its relevant bodies. We cannot recall a single instance in which the authorities refused to cooperate with humanitarian actors. They have repeatedly extended authorization for the use of the Adré border crossing with Chad, and they are working on simplifying logistical chains and streamlining documents processing for humanitarians and cargo. The situation is similar when it comes to the protection of civilians. In January, the Government of the Sudan drafted a national plan on this issue that included We believe that this conflict cannot be resolved through force. The most important goal here is to have the opposing parties agree on a lasting ceasefire. That will create the opportunity to launch a fully fledged intra-Sudanese dialogue, including all influential political forces and the main ethnic and faith groups within the country. On the basis of that dialogue, the outlines should be drawn up for future Government bodies acceptable to everyone. Such bodies should be designed to take into account the reasons for the conflict. The Security Council and the United Nations system should complement and accompany that process and not impose unacceptable solutions.

I shall now make a statement in my capacity as the representative of China. I thank Director Wosornu for her briefing, and I welcome the participation of the representatives of the Sudan, Angola, Kenya and Egypt in today’s meeting. The conflict in the Sudan has been dragging on for almost two years now, and there is still no sign of de-escalation. The conflict has resulted in large numbers of deaths and injuries and the displacement of innocent civilians, as well as the widespread destruction of infrastructure. More than 30 million people are in need of different forms of humanitarian assistance. In the face of this humanitarian crisis, which is the largest in the world today, I share the deep pain and concern of all my colleagues. China appreciates the relief work carried out by the United Nations agencies and humanitarian workers under extremely dangerous conditions. China welcomes the announcement by the Government of the Sudan that it will continue to open the Adré border crossing point and the fact that it has taken a number of initiatives to facilitate humanitarian access. We support the continued close communication and coordination between the United Nations and the Government of the Sudan to enable humanitarian supplies to reach those in need in a timely and safe manner. The 2025 Sudan humanitarian needs and response plan and the emergency regional refugee response plan for the Sudan were recently released. Their unprecedented funding requirements once again reflect the severity of the humanitarian crisis in the Sudan. We call on the international community to provide greater targeted support for the Sudan and the neighbouring countries in order to help them improve their humanitarian response capacity and better meet the challenges of conflict spillover, refugee movements, frequent outbreaks of infectious diseases and food insecurity. Since the outbreak of the conflict, China has continued to provide assistance to the Sudan, to the best of its ability. In addition to donations of food and medical supplies, the latest batch of tents and other relief and resettlement materials was delivered this month. China stands ready to work with the international community to continue to play a constructive role in helping to alleviate the humanitarian situation in the Sudan and promote the resolution of the conflict. It should be recognized that only the cessation of hostilities can fundamentally alleviate the humanitarian crisis. China welcomes the recent submission by the Government of the Sudan of a national plan for the protection of civilians, and we call on the parties to the conflict to comply effectively with the requirements of Council Recently, the Rapid Support Forces and some political parties and armed factions declared their intention to establish a parallel Government, a move that risks increasing the fragmentation of the Sudan. China reiterates its support for the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of the Sudan. The Islamic month of Ramadan is approaching. It should be a time of peace and tranquillity for Muslims around the world, including in the Sudan. A year ago, the Council adopted a resolution on a ceasefire during the month of Ramadan (resolution 2728 (2024)). China wishes to take this opportunity to reiterate its call on all parties to the conflict to lay down their arms, stop the violence and strengthen their unity so that the flames of war can be quenched as soon as possible and peace can come as soon as possible. I now resume my functions as President of the Council. I give the floor to the representative of the Sudan.

I congratulate you, Mr. President, on China’s presidency during this month. We commend your conduct of the work of the Council to achieve its goals, and you can be assured of our cooperation to that end. We hope that you will allow us sufficient time to reflect on the developments of the past month in relation to many of the concerns expressed by delegations with regard to the political transition, the civilian political dialogue, the constitutional developments and preventive diplomacy and to address the efforts made to resolve the conflict and provide humanitarian assistance. In addition, I will mention the engagement with the Special Envoy. I will be as brief as I can. I also thank Ms. Wosornu for her briefing. Concerning the voluntary return of displaced persons and refugees, official statistics estimate that 2 million people had returned as of February, after the liberation of Gezira, Sennar and most of Khartoum and White Nile. The number is expected to reach about 5 million by the end of June. After their return to the recaptured villages, the Government is making every effort to meet their needs through ongoing coordination with organizations active in the Sudan and with the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. There are a number of projects in place to rehabilitate schools, universities and centres of higher education, provide health services, repair water networks and power grids, provide sources of livelihood, conduct demining, rehabilitate mental health centres and restore police stations. We have identified priorities for recovery and reconstruction by focusing on infrastructure such as roads, energy, electricity and water networks and developing the productive sectors of the economy. The Minister of Finance, Mr. Gibril Ibrahim, presented a vision with Mr. Abdallah Al Dadari, Assistant Secretary-General, for the United Nations Development Programme’s recovery plan in the Sudan, in line with the Government’s priorities according to an integrated national framework to finance priorities. The plan included addressing violence, displacement and community protection, climate change and its impact on economic activity, digital transformation, financing the energy and telecommunications sectors, developing value chains and benefiting from microfinance in bridging the financing gap. Regarding cooperation, with the efforts of Special Envoy Lamamra since his first visit to the Sudan on 12 January 2024 as Special Envoy, the Sudanese authorities organized for Mr. Lamamra a meeting with the entire top leadership and sovereign authorities and has met with political, civilian and diplomatic leaders without interference. The authorities facilitated a briefing for him on the dynamics of the The discussion with Mr. Lamamra included the Sudanese road map and the Jeddah Declaration of Commitment to Protect the Civilians of Sudan, signed in May 2023, and their validity as a basis instead of returning to square one, with a thorough assessment of humanitarian needs and external interventions and their role in deepening the crisis. It was clarified that, before the war, the Sudan received 12 European envoys, who were formally asked to help to integrate the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) into the armed forces. However, they showed no interest, and that lack of response is one of the manifestations of the polarization that reached its peak before the war, paving the way for conflict with the presence of a United Nations political mission at the time. There was an initiative by Egypt at the time that carried the elements of success in solving the problem, but a major country obstructed it. In that regard, the Jeddah Declaration could have been a good basis for a solution, but the RSF continued to occupy citizens’ homes and obstruct the Declaration’s implementation, under the influence of the regional sponsor. The Sudan accepted to participate in the Intergovernmental Authority on Development initiative, whose meeting was scheduled for 28 December 2023, and sent a high-level delegation. But we were surprised that the meeting was postponed without logical justifications, while the RSF leader was touring East Africa on an Emirati plane and the United Arab Emirates sent its delegation together with the RSF delegation on the same plane. The success of all those regional initiatives has therefore been hampered, as has that of the initiative of neighbouring countries led by sisterly Egypt and the initiative of the African Union. There were always individuals working behind the scenes to sabotage and obstruct efforts to resolve the Sudanese crisis for their own diabolical aims. The RSF are being supported by the United Arab Emirates, including advanced drones, and that is the main reason behind the continuation of the current war. As for the vision of the Special Envoy, the Sudan is positively engaged with the protection of civilians and has submitted to the Security Council a national plan for that purpose in order to find the best means to implement the Jeddah Declaration and implement resolutions 1591 (2005), calling for a halt to arms exports to Darfur and resolution 2736 (2024), which called on the militia to lift the siege on El Fasher and enshrined Sudanese national ownership as the basis for a solution. The President of the Transitional Sovereign Council, General Abdul Fattah Al-Burhan, has reacted positively to the United Nations engagement with the conflict and the preventive diplomacy led by Mr. Lamamra. That happened as follows. With regard to the commitment of the Government of the Sudan to cooperate and facilitate procedures related to the protection of civilians and alleviating the suffering of the Sudanese, we sent a delegation of experts and technicians to negotiations on reaching convergences in Geneva in June 2024. We have shown commitment to safe and unrestricted access for humanitarian aid without bureaucratic obstacles, as the war has killed bureaucracy. We therefore want the humanitarian system to reach those who need it, while respecting the sovereignty of the country and its laws relating to humanitarian action and the principles of the United Nations in that regard. Airports in Port Sudan, El Obeid, El Fasher, Kadugli, Kassala and Damazin have been designated for the transport of humanitarian assistance, with a significant increase in the number of crossings from two to nine. The only two crossings that had been operational were Port Sudan and Tina crossings. We also added the Adré crossing, which was renewed for the second time in a row a few days ago, on 17 February. We The Government has committed to protecting the infrastructure and the continued operation of basic services, communications, the Internet and health services, as evidenced by the fact that they all operate in areas under the protection of the armed forces but have been destroyed by the militia in the areas under their control. That includes the obligation to protect refugees and foreign humanitarian workers in the Sudan. We have accepted the Secretary-General’s offer regarding the humanitarian truces that require agreements with the aggressor, the latest of which was a commitment to a short-term ceasefire on 20 May 2023, to implement the commitments of the Jeddah Declaration, which was extended on 29 May 2023. Some spokespersons of the RSF have stated in the media and on satellite channels that they have benefited from the ceasefire by expanding their forces on the ground and bringing more supplies and combat equipment from some neighbouring countries. For any new requests for a cessation of hostilities or short pauses, in addition to the militia’s commitment to implementing the requirements of resolution 2736 (2024) and ending its more than 190 attacks on El Fasher, including rocket shelling and drones, indiscriminately targeting civilians, health facilities and infrastructure, the Sudan welcomes any practical truce that can be implemented. Any bridging of positions must therefore begin with the implementation of what has already been agreed. The Sudanese Armed Forces are professional forces that train their forces on combat bases in military colleges, institutes and schools and that are 100 years old. They cannot be equated with militias and mercenaries that are aimed at destruction for the benefit of an ethnically arrogant State, as announced in Nairobi last week. There are many diplomatic missions operating from the temporary capital of Port Sudan, and they are steadily increasing. And I conclude this part of my statement by stressing that the Government is currently working on forming a civilian Government of technocrats to assume its duties during the transitional period, which will end with the holding of free and fair elections, in which all colours of the Sudanese political spectrum can participate to determine the future and the nature of governance they willingly seek. Regarding the Sudan’s post-war road map and the resumption of the political process, the Sudanese Government recognizes that ending the war is only the beginning of a more complex phase, namely, the reconstruction of the State and the resumption of inclusive political processes leading to fair elections and restoring the stability and democracy of the Sudan. For that reason and after negotiations and consultations with the national and societal forces active in the Sudan, the leadership of the State has developed a clear road map that includes multiple main elements. We ask members to support that road map. First is the launch of a comprehensive national dialogue in which all political and societal forces will participate, welcoming any party that adopts a national position, rejects aggression and sides with the unity and security of the Sudan. Next is the formation of an independent Government with national competencies to manage the tasks of the transitional period and enable State institutions to overcome the repercussions of the war. Next is to undertake the necessary amendments to the constitutional document, approve them by national and societal forces and then choose a civilian Prime Minister to manage the executive branch of the State, without any political or military interference. Next is affirming the freedom of speech and political action, with a commitment not to undermine national constants or threaten the unity of the country and to ensure The Constitution was amended in 2019 so as to define the sources of law and to make the two most widely spoken languages, Arabic and English, the working languages of government, all Sudanese languages being considered national languages and respected as such. The amended transitional period shall not exceed 39 months. Article 16 lays down that action must be taken to end the war and that all perpetrators of crimes against the Sudanese people shall be brought to justice in accordance with the law. Work shall be undertaken to rebuild what the war destroyed. The transitional legislative authority shall consist of the Sovereignty Council and the Ministers until such time as the Legislative Assembly is established. The Sovereignty Council shall consist of 11 members, six of whom shall be appointed by the armed forces and three nominated by the parties to the Juba Agreement for Peace in the Sudan, with due consideration for the representation of women and the regions of the Sudan. The future transitional Council of Ministers shall consist of the Prime Minister and no more than 26 Ministers vested with independent national competencies and to be appointed by the Sovereignty Council, with the exception of those Ministers appointed by the parties to the peace process. Turning to the Sudan’s national plan for the protection of civilians, we have submitted the plan to the Security Council and trust that it will be approved. The Sudan relies on the efforts of the United Nations and its various agencies, as well as those of international and regional partners. We support those efforts and will engage with them to exert the necessary pressure on the terrorist rebel militia so as to compel it to implement what was agreed in Jeddah. We recall that the first paragraph of the Jeddah Declaration clearly states that the overriding priority is to ensure that civilians are protected at all times, including by allowing them safe passage so that they can leave areas of active hostilities on a voluntary basis, in the direction they choose. The second paragraph of the Declaration requires the militia to distinguish between civilians and combatants and between civilian objects and military targets and, furthermore, to take all necessary precautions to avoid harm to civilians, including not using them as human shields. In our view, the international community must take a more robust stance to compel the militia to abide by those commitments. Furthermore, in an unprecedented move, in clear violation of the Charter of the United Nations and the Constitutive Act of the African Union and in a departure from accepted protocol, the Kenyan President has recognized the so-called parallel Government, which the Council has roundly condemned and which is led by the Rapid Support Forces, which committed ethnocide, and its political genocidal allies. Kenya welcomed what it called the political pact between the Rapid Support Forces and the parallel Government — a pact that seeks to dismantle the Sudan so as to serve the goals of the road map for the new Middle East and the beneficiaries and profiteers thereof. The Kenyan position attracted condemnation at a high level and by civil society and parties, including in Kenya itself. The Kenyan Government was criticized for hosting and facilitating the announcement of a parallel Government as part of a United Arab Emirates-sponsored plan to dismantle the armed forces and break up the Sudan. The announcement came amid leaked reports that Kenya had initially received $193 million. Bloomberg subsequently reported that the United Arab Emirates had given Kenya a loan of more than $1 billion in the week of that shameful event. We would not have raised that issue in this forum had the Government of Kenya not acknowledged in a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office At the signing session during the meeting in Nairobi, the militia’s command and its allies chanted slogans that called for the invasion of certain Sudanese cities with a view to pursuing the ethnic cleansing perpetrated in the villages of El Geneina, Ardamata, El Gezira, Sennar and White Nile states and in Zamzam camp. They announced that they were seeking a Government that would enable them to acquire weapons and that the $200 million that the United Arab Emirates had donated at the humanitarian event held in Ethiopia would serve that purpose. That entails an expansion of the war such that, whenever the army is on the brink of victory, the sponsors of the regional order who are lurking in the Sudan will seek to prolong it. We condemn that behaviour as antithetical to the peace efforts led by the African Union and the positive role played by Kenya in the past, as well as the inherited and agreed principles on the borders of African States, the endeavours of the African Union High-level Panel and its Peace and Security Council to resolve the conflict, the Constitutive Act of the African Union and the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. We urge the Council to condemn that violation, as the Secretary-General did in a statement issued on 24 February, in which he affirmed support for the sovereignty of the Sudan. In conclusion, I would like to underscore that the Sudan has consistently expressed support for Personal Envoy Ramtane Lamamra, because we trust in the Secretary- General and his Envoy. We believe that their role will make a positive contribution to bringing the views of the parties closer together and to finding realistic solutions to the crisis.

I now give the floor to the representative of Angola.

I thank you, Mr. President, for convening this important meeting to address the increasing and complex and devastating conflict in the Republic of the Sudan. I commend China for its able stewardship of the Council’s work. I express my appreciation to Ms. Edem Wosornu, Director of Operations and Advocacy Division of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), for her comprehensive briefing on the dire humanitarian situation in the Sudan. Angola aligns with itself the statement made by the representative of Algeria on behalf of the three African members of the Security Council plus. Allow me, in my national capacity, to make the following three points. First, the humanitarian situation remains quite serious. More than 60 per cent of the population requires immediate humanitarian assistance to survive, and the risk of famine in certain regions of the country is already a sad reality. In addition, the number of internally displaced people, which stands at more than 12 million, as we just heard, has placed tremendous pressure on the sanitation and healthcare system, thereby contributing to the rapid and dangerous spread of preventable diseases. The compelling appeal made here by Ms. Wosornu cannot be any louder or clearer. We must act now and very swiftly to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe of greater proportions. We call on the warring parties to engage with OCHA and to keep safe and unhindered humanitarian corridors open so that humanitarian aid can reach people in need in a speedy and sustained way. In that regard, Angola welcomes the Sudanese Government’s decision on 17 February to extend humanitarian access at the Chad-Sudan border for three additional months. Moreover, we call on all parties to the conflict to fully respect human rights and international humanitarian law. Thirdly, with regard to international efforts to promote a peaceful solution, the Jeddah process, facilitated by Saudi Arabia and the United States in May 2023, created a hopeful prospect of bringing peace to the Sudan, leading to a ceasefire as an indispensable condition for the protection of civilians and the provision of humanitarian assistance to the affected populations. When the Peace and Security Council of the African Union met in Addis Ababa on 14 February to discuss the situation in the Sudan, His Excellency Mr. João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, President of Republic of Angola, called for renewed coordinated efforts by the African Union, the United Nations and other concerned international partners to resolve the Sudanese crisis. He believes that it is fundamental to use all possible and necessary diplomatic means of pressure on the warring parties to lead them to agree on an immediate and permanent cessation of hostilities. In that context, Angola commends the African Union’s commitment to working with the people of Sudan to end the fighting and put in place a process towards lasting and inclusive peace, democracy and justice in the country. The work of the African Union High-Level Panel on the Resolution of the Conflict in Sudan is particularly relevant in that regard. The establishment of the Peace and Security Council Ad Hoc Presidential Committee on Sudan, chaired by His Excellency Mr. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President of the Republic of Uganda, and of which Angola is a member, and the steps taken to operationalize it, constitute another important and strategic diplomatic initiative to facilitate constructive engagement between the warring parties to find a political solution to this heinous conflict. There is no military solution to the current war in the Sudan. In his capacity as the current Chair of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region and African Union Champion for Peace and Reconciliation in Africa, His Excellency Mr. João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, President of the Republic of Angola, has discussed with His Excellency General Abdel-Fattah Al-Burhan, President of the Transitional Sovereign Council of the Republic of the Sudan, the need for the resumption of an inclusive political dialogue. That should be part of a process to address the root causes of the conflict and uphold the aspirations and welfare of the Sudanese people to achieve peace and national reconciliation. We welcome the adoption, on 9 February 2025, of a detailed road map by the Sudanese transitional authorities, which have created the indispensable conditions for the establishment of a Sudanese-led and Sudanese-owned political dialogue towards an inclusive national reconciliation process and returning power to a democratic elected Government in due time. In conclusion, allow me to share three observations regarding the way forward. First, all parties to the conflict must recommit to, and engage in, an authentic search for peace based on the genuine interests of the people of the Sudan. Secondly, the effective relaunching of the initiatives undertaken by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development and the Ad Hoc Presidential Committee on Sudan, created under the Peace and Security Council of the African Union, will be important to provide a renewed impetus to the peace process.

I now give the floor to the representative of Kenya.

I congratulate you, Mr. President, and the People’s Republic of China once more for your astute leadership of the Security Council this month. We value the input of earlier speakers, who invariably emphasized the need for cooperation and collaboration towards the achievement of lasting peace, security and stability in the Sudan and across the Horn of Africa. Kenya wishes to add its voice to the calls for a prompt cessation of violence, for immediate and unconditional access to humanitarian assistance and for the warring parties in the Sudan to engage in good-faith negotiations towards a political solution to the conflict. Kenya has historically been, and presently remains, a force for good in eastern Africa and beyond. In that regard, Kenya’s commitment to a peaceful and stable Horn of Africa, and indeed to a peaceful and stable Sudan, is unwavering. In the Sudan, Kenya has been a consistent proponent of the peaceful resolution of conflicts and continuous peacebuilding. Allow me to recall that Kenya played a central role in hosting and facilitating a protracted peace process leading to the signing in Nairobi of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement between the Government of the Republic of the Sudan and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Sudan People’s Liberation Army, which ended decades of conflict between the north and south of the Sudan. Similarly, since 2019, Kenya has remained steadfast in its support for the Sudan’s democratic transition, advocating for a peaceful resolution to the political and security crises. Kenya has been deeply involved in engaging with Sudanese political actors across the political spectrum, including by supporting the African Union mediation effort that led to the signing of the Political Agreement and the Constitutional Declaration on the transitional authority in Khartoum on 17 August 2019, in which my country participated at the highest level. Within a day of the outbreak of the war in the Sudan on 15 April 2023, President William Ruto mobilized and participated in the first Intergovernmental Authority on Development meeting, in an attempt to stop the war immediately. Also consistent with our peacemaking doctrine, President Ruto offered a safe space for all Sudanese groups and people to convene and evolve modalities of restoring the Sudan to the democratic dispensation that had been subverted by the resignation of the interim civilian administration and of Prime Minister Hamdok. Since then, numerous groups of leaders, professionals, civil society, armed groups, trade unions and others have convened in dialogues of various formations in Kenya. Indeed, several declarations and agreements have been negotiated and signed in Nairobi. We have also received and engaged official delegations from the Sudan, which reaffirm their commitment to ending the war and restoring the Sudan to civilian administration. The signing of the peace charter in Nairobi last week is one such document, and it must be viewed in that context, or in that light. It is notable that a collective of 24 groups drawn from a wide and inclusive cross section of civilian, political and military actors, associated itself with that peace charter. I think that, at this point, we wish to clarify that Kenya has not recognized any entity, whether in the Sudan or elsewhere. Recognition of States is a legal phenomenon, the exercise of which is provided for by international law. I reiterate Kenya believes strongly in availing diverse groups from Sudanese society of the opportunity for dialogue and negotiations, and it has remained consistent in its commitment to facilitating the expansion of Sudanese consensus across the political divide towards achieving a swift end to the conflict in the Sudan. In conclusion, I wish to reiterate that  — in all its interventions  — Kenya is firmly guided by its established and historic adherence to the principles of good- neighbourliness and non-interference in the internal affairs of other States. Kenya’s commitment to the territorial integrity, sovereignty and political independence of the Sudan is unambiguous. I therefore underscore that Kenya has absolutely no interest in the disintegration of the Sudan, but rather in its transition to peace and prosperity.

I now give the floor to the representative of Egypt.

Allow me, Mr. President, to thank my sister, Ms. Edem Wosornu, Director of Operations and Advocacy, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, for her valuable briefing on the latest developments in the Sudan. We reaffirm in our meeting today our full solidarity with the brotherly Sudanese people and our commitment to working to restore peace, security and stability in the Sudan and to protecting its resources. Challenges continue to burden our brothers and sisters in the Sudan before the eyes of the world. We all must help them to maintain the security, unity, sovereignty, resources and national institutions of the Sudan, in order to reach a lasting solution to the crisis, on the basis of realistic and solid foundations. The conflict in the Sudan must end because it compounds the suffering of its people, depletes the country’s resources, leads to foreign intervention in its internal affairs and jeopardizes its people’s future. I would like to present some points concerning the priorities in the next phase in alleviating the crisis and achieving a lasting solution. First, it is important to stress the need to maintain Sudan’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity and to reject all forms of intervention in its internal affairs or any attempt to establish parallel frameworks, because the territorial integrity of the Sudan is not up for negotiation. There can be no compromise on that. Secondly, it is important to maintain Sudanese State institutions and prevent their collapse. There must be no compromises with other entities established outside the scope of the State, including armed militias. The Sudan’s interests must come first, in order to reach lasting and definitive Sudanese-led and Sudanese-owned solutions to the crisis, free of any foreign interference, and to achieve the aspirations of the Sudanese people for security, stability and development. The leadership of the Sudan has a clear and specific vision for the way forward. We also listened to the representative of Angola, who presented the view of the African Union. Thirdly, the illicit influx of arms into the Sudan must be ended to swiftly end the conflict and bloodshed. There must be an end to the waves of internally displaced persons and refugees. We all share the responsibility of supporting the Sudan so that its crisis does not escalate from a regional crisis whose repercussions are limited to neighbouring countries in Africa to a crisis that threatens international peace and security, because that could threaten the safety of navigation in the Red Sea or increase illegal migration to Europe, or even turn the Sudan into a haven for criminal groups or armed militias. Fifthly, international efforts cannot succeed in addressing the crisis in the Sudan unless trust between the Sudanese Government and the United Nations and its agencies is restored. We support the constructive dialogue between the United Nations and the Sudanese Government. We commend the Government’s recent decisions to alleviate the humanitarian suffering of the brotherly Sudanese people, including through the three-month extension of the opening of the Adré border crossing to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian assistance. Egypt also calls on the international community to take advantage of the Sudanese Government’s decisions to establish humanitarian warehouses in different locations, to allow humanitarian flights and identify entry points for humanitarian assistance in sufficient quantities to meet the needs of the Sudanese people and to simultaneously maintain the security of the Sudan, respect its sovereignty and take into account its security concerns, while preventing the use of such entry points to deliver arms to militias and armed groups. Sixthly, Egypt stresses the need to increase the assistance and funding of States and donors in order to meet funding pledges for the humanitarian response plan in the Sudan and the plan to support refugees in neighbouring countries. Funding for those plans is still below 30 per cent. It is also important to increase assistance for neighbouring countries, which are shouldering the greatest burden on behalf of the international community. We reaffirm our full commitment to provide all necessary support for our brothers and sisters fleeing the conflict in the Sudan who come to Egypt. We host more than 1.5 million Sudanese refugees in Egypt, and we are providing them with the same services that we provide to Egyptian citizens. In conclusion, as always, Egypt stands ready to support all serious and genuine Sudanese-led and Sudanese-owned efforts to end the crisis in the Sudan and to maintain the security, stability, sovereignty, resources and national institutions of the Sudan. We reiterate our warnings regarding the release of disinformation that does not reflect the reality in the Sudan, and we stress the need to stop any foreign intervention and put the national interest first in the Sudan. In conclusion, we reaffirm the full solidarity of Egypt’s leaders, Government and people with our brothers and sisters in the Sudan. We support their legitimate aspirations for a better tomorrow because we believe in the goals and destiny shared by our peoples and countries and because we have relations of brotherhood, good- neighbourliness and common history.

There are no more names inscribed on the list of speakers. I now invite Council members to informal consultations to continue our discussion on the subject.