International community urges ceasefire, protection of civilians in Sudan

BRUSSELS

The African Union, EU, and the foreign ministers of France, Germany and the UK underlined that Sudan faces "the most devastating humanitarian and displacement crisis in the world," with 30 million people in need of assistance and 24 million suffering from acute food insecurity.

A ministerial meeting co-chaired by the African Union, EU, and the foreign ministers of the three countries convened Wednesday in New York, with the participation of representatives from the UN, the League of Arab States, Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and several countries, including the US, Canada, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt.

A joint statement from the co-chairs urged Sudan's warring parties to resume direct talks for a permanent cease-fire and pledged further action to support peace efforts.

The statement also backed an EU-facilitated agreement to protect critical infrastructure and stressed the urgent need to safeguard civilians.

Foreign interference in the conflict was strongly condemned, with a call on all state and non-state actors to halt military and financial support in line with UN Security Council resolutions.

The ministers reaffirmed commitment to Sudan's sovereignty and unity, rejected parallel governing bodies, and called for an inclusive transition led by the Sudanese people.

They demanded respect for human rights and humanitarian law, urged compliance with the Jeddah Declaration, and supported accountability efforts by the UN Fact-Finding Mission and the International Criminal Court.

El-Fasher has witnessed intense fighting between the Sudanese army and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since May 2024, despite international warnings about the risks of violence in a city that serves as a key humanitarian hub for the five Darfur states.

The RSF and the army have been locked in a brutal power struggle since April 2023, resulting in thousands of deaths and pushing Sudan into one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.

More than 20,000 people have been killed and 15 million displaced, according to UN and local figures. However, US-based researchers estimate the actual death toll to be as high as 130,000.