By Matik Kueth
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the Sudanese Army Forces (SAF) and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) for brutal atrocities against civilians in Sudan, urging the UN Security Council on Monday to take swift action to protect innocent lives and ensure accountability for those responsible.
“The perpetrators of serious violations of international humanitarian law must be held accountable,” Guterres said.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed deep concern over the recent “shocking reports of mass killings and sexual violence” in Sudan’s Al Jazirah State. He condemned the ongoing violence and emphasized the urgent need to end the supply of arms to Sudan to prevent the crisis from worsening.
Guterres urged the UN Security Council to adopt innovative strategies tailored to the complex realities of the conflict, aimed at reducing bloodshed and protecting Sudanese civilians. He also called for unimpeded and secure access to humanitarian aid and asked all warring parties to keep their commitments to civilian protection and to engage in meaningful dialogue.
During a recent Security Council meeting, Sudan’s UN Ambassador, Al-Harith Idriss, attributed the violence to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and their regional allies, accusing them of hindering humanitarian aid and violating international law. He cited instances of civilians joining the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) in self-defense or seeking shelter with them.
Idriss reaffirmed Sudan’s commitment to civilian protection and outlined a strategy focused on accountability, political participation, peace promotion, adherence to international law, and improving humanitarian access. He urged the Council to recognize the conflict as a case of external aggression involving local actors, rather than an internal war between two Sudanese factions.
“Sudan is facing aggression supported by regional and international players. Framing the situation solely within the context of a conflict between two internal parties is a misinterpretation that will obstruct any path to resolution,” he stressed.
The conflict between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), ongoing since April 15, 2023, has led to nearly 15,000 deaths and displaced over 8.2 million people, marking it as the world’s worst displacement crisis. Nearly 2 million Sudanese have fled to unstable neighboring regions like Chad, Ethiopia, and South Sudan, overwhelming refugee camps and raising concerns about potential migration toward Europe.
The United Nations has called for increased international support as more than 25 million people in Sudan need humanitarian assistance. The situation is compounded by worsening food security, which the UN warns is creating the “world’s largest hunger crisis.”