The conflict and humanitarian crisis in Sudan continue to deteriorate without any visible breakthrough, Rosemary DiCarlo, Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs , warned the Security Council today.
With the warring parties not moving towards dialogue and believing "that they can make greater gains on the battlefield", she regretted the absence of a credible commitment to pursue a negotiated pause.
"The picture is bleak", she said. "The people of Sudan continue to face the brutal reality of conflict - enduring relentless fighting, a worsening humanitarian crisis, severe economic hardship and the collapse of basic services."
Relentless fighting, particularly in the epicentre-States of North Kordofan, South Kordofan and Blue Nile, has impacted far beyond these front lines, she said, as deadly drone attacks sweep the country. Aid operations have also come under sustained attacks, she said, strongly condemning the 3 October drone strikes on two World Food Programme trucks which killed one driver.
She implored all external actors to work towards ending the war, cease usage of drones, or strictly regulate their deployment.
Highlighting present altercations on both sides of the Sudan-Ethiopian border, she called on all parties to desist from actions that cause a spillover in either direction, as "preventing a wider regional crisis must remain our collective priority".
She commended the "confidence-building measures" advanced by Pekka Haavisto, the Secretary-General's Personal Envoy for the country, in his interactions with the conflicting parties and with the United Nations Children's Fund on negotiated prisoner exchange and educational continuity for Sudanese students respectively.
"International engagement on Sudan is gaining momentum. The momentum must be matched by a clear commitment from the parties to end the fighting and engage seriously in a political process", she said.
Sudan Signals 'Rays of Hope' Despite Bleak Picture, Calls for Dismantling Military Operation of Rapid Support Forces
Undaunted by her summation of things in his country, Sudan's representative said that despite the "bleak picture" painted by Ms. DiCarlo, "the rays of hope are on the horizon". He noted that an end to the militias' control of civilian homes and facilities is indispensable to the success of any humanitarian truce. As such, "specific measures" must be taken against those fuelling the war and supplying weapons, funding and mercenaries. Efforts must also be made at the international level to dismantle networks, including the Rapid Support Forces, involved in the conflict.
"The war will end with the defeat of the externally supported rebellion", he stressed. Therefore, Darfur demands the withdrawal of rebel forces from occupied towns and sites in violation of the May 2023 Jeddah Agreement.
He underscored the need for a commitment to democratic transition for the Sudanese people to determine their future and noted that a resulting single national army would help bring criminals to account. "This would prevent the use of armed control as a means to gain entitlement to rule the country or to legitimize parallel administrative entities or individuals."
Sudanese-Sudanese Dialogue to Advance Country-Led Peace Efforts
He therefore announced the establishment of a preparatory committee for the Sudanese-Sudanese dialogue to advance country-led-and-owned peace efforts to expand the space for a pluralistic dialogue which would contribute to achieving national consensus as well as peacefully manage differences. And he invited the Council to visit his country to see the significant destruction caused by the militia "so that the States that call for expanding the arms embargo" would "realize that this would be a mistake".
Considering pathways to resolve the conflict, China's representative, recalled that every milestone ceasefire agreement was reached under African leadership, fully supported by Beijing. "We must support the [African Union] and the UN in playing their core mediation role in making use of African approaches and African wisdom", he said, imploring that a Sudanese-owned-and-led political process must not be ignored.
As far as Moscow is concerned, noted the Russian Federation's representative, amid a "multitude of competing peace initiatives", including the Quintet - comprising the African Union, the European Union, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, the League of Arab States and the United Nations - and the Quad - formed by Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and the United States] - the UN should "play the central role in consolidating various approaches". He added that attempts by some Western States to impose political settlement formulas on Sudan and to place the Sovereignty Council and the Rapid Support Forces on an equal footing are counterproductive. Therefore, "it is important to maintain an honest and substantive dialogue with the country's Government and to place the preservation of national State institutions at the forefront."
Delegates Disagree over Sanctions, but Agree on Need for Unhindered Humanitarian Access
Concurring, Egypt's speaker warned that for these institutions to be safeguarded and not weakened, nor their ability to protect civilians undermined, an objective assessment must be made of the existing sanctions' regime and its impact. He cautioned against using these measures to alter the balance of power or deprive Sudan's armed forces of the means to protect civilians. "Sanctions should remain a tool for the international community to help end this conflict and protect civilians from mercenaries", he said.
For Pakistan's delegate, "sanctions must serve a political purpose", as "they are a means to support peace, not an end in themselves". They cannot, therefore, substitute diplomacy or weaken Sudanese State institutions.
While urging the Council to "clearly and emphatically support" an established process that preserves these institutions in a manner accountable to the Sudanese people, the United States will continue to push for an expansion of the sanctions regime to "better reflect the realities of the conflict that now spans the entire country", its representative said. He also noted that, as the harvest season begins in Sudan, all parties must provide protection for civilians and food systems. "In the face of growing extreme food insecurity, an effective humanitarian response is critical", he emphasized.
Somalia's delegate, speaking also for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Liberia, agreed. "We call for the removal of all impediments to relief operations", he said, emphasizing that humanitarian assistance must remain impartial and free of political interference. He strongly condemned the Rapid Support Forces' attacks on aid operations, as well as against civilians and civilian infrastructure.
Bahrain's representative highlighted, with concern, the impact of the conflict on world trade, particularly through disruptions to global supply chains and rising transport and energy costs, which have resulted from threats to navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mande as well as tensions in the Horn of Africa.
On this, Ethiopia's speaker said his county is troubled by reports that a neighboring State was operating drone bases and conducting attacks that killed civilians and artisanal gold miners inside Sudan. He therefore warned regional actors to refrain from using Sudan's conflict to destabilize the Horn of Africa.
