Over twenty countries condemn atrocities in Sudan conflict
The statement highlighted concerns over “systematic and ongoing violence against civilians during and after the fall of El-Fasher to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF),” as well as the intensifying fighting across North Darfur and the Kordofan region.
Signatories condemned the “deliberate targeting of civilians, ethnically motivated mass killings, conflict-related sexual violence, starvation as a method of warfare, and obstruction of humanitarian access” as “abhorrent violations of international humanitarian law.” They emphasized that “such acts, if substantiated, constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity under international law.”
The ministers and officials demanded an immediate cessation of violence, stressing that “impunity must end and accountability must be upheld,” and underlined that “protection and justice for the Sudanese people is not only a legal obligation but also an urgent moral imperative.”
The statement also addressed the humanitarian crisis, describing it as “intolerable that widespread starvation and famine persist due to access restrictions,” and urged authorities to allow aid agencies such as the World Food Program (WFP) and UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to deliver assistance freely. “All parties must respect international humanitarian law,” the statement said, calling for safe passage for civilians and the immediate facilitation of aid in line with UN Security Council Resolution 2736.
The group called for a ceasefire and a three-month humanitarian truce and warned against any attempts to partition Sudan. “We reaffirm our support for the sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity of the country and for the right of its people to live in peace, dignity, and justice without external interference,” it said.
Signatories included Canada, Spain, the UK, Norway, Germany, Ireland, Sweden, Austria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Finland, Poland, and Switzerland. They concluded by urging all sides to “come to the negotiating table,” stressing that “only a broad and inclusive Sudanese-owned political process can resolve Sudan’s challenges.”
On Sunday, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that nearly 89,000 people have been displaced from El-Fasher and surrounding areas in North Darfur since Oct. 26, when the RSF seized control of the city. Local and international organizations reported ethnic-based massacres by the RSF during the takeover, amid warnings that the assault could deepen Sudan’s territorial divisions.
Since April 15, 2023, Sudan’s army and the RSF have been engaged in a conflict that regional and international mediation efforts have failed to resolve, leaving thousands dead and millions displaced.
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