UN chief urges Sudan’s warring parties to halt hostilities during Muslim holy month of Ramadan
UN Secretary-General António Guterres calls for a ceasefire in Sudan during Ramadan, emphasizing the conflict's threat to national unity and potential to cause regional instability.
Sudan's military leader Gen. Abdel Fattah Burhan supports the ceasefire proposal, announced by Sudan's UN envoy, but there's no response from the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces' commander Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo.
This appeal precedes a potential UN Security Council vote on a resolution demanding an immediate end to hostilities for Ramadan. The resolution highlights the escalating violence and the dire humanitarian crisis, including acute food shortages, particularly in Darfur.
Since last April, fighting between Sudan's military and paramilitary forces has led to chaos and deadly street clashes in Khartoum, spreading violence throughout the country.
In Darfur, the Arab-led Rapid Support Forces have launched brutal assaults on ethnic African civilians, resulting in thousands of deaths. These actions echo the region's history of genocide and war crimes, and current hostilities could be amounting to war crimes, crimes against humanity, or genocide according to the International Criminal Court's prosecutor, Karim Khan.
With military advancements and increasing violence, Guterres warns of further fragmentation and ethnic tensions. He suggests a Ramadan ceasefire could alleviate suffering and promote sustainable peace.
Sudan's UN Ambassador Al-Harith Mohamed states the government is receptive to the UN chief's plea and reports Gen. Burhan's commendation. However, ongoing attacks by the Rapid Support Forces raise concerns on implementing the ceasefire.
UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric stresses that both parties have the power to stop fighting and that help is available to ensure peace.
Amid the ongoing conflict, Guterres warns of the enormous humanitarian impact, with half the country requiring life-saving aid, widespread food insecurity, malnutrition among children, massive internal displacement, crippled civilian infrastructure, halted education, and reports of widespread sexual violence.
As Ramadan nears, the UK's deputy UN ambassador James Kariuki hopes for a Security Council vote on the ceasefire and criticizes both the Sudanese Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces for the atrocities in Sudan. Kariuki demands unrestricted humanitarian access and calls for a shift to a civilian government that respects human rights.
This appeal precedes a potential UN Security Council vote on a resolution demanding an immediate end to hostilities for Ramadan. The resolution highlights the escalating violence and the dire humanitarian crisis, including acute food shortages, particularly in Darfur.
Since last April, fighting between Sudan's military and paramilitary forces has led to chaos and deadly street clashes in Khartoum, spreading violence throughout the country.
In Darfur, the Arab-led Rapid Support Forces have launched brutal assaults on ethnic African civilians, resulting in thousands of deaths. These actions echo the region's history of genocide and war crimes, and current hostilities could be amounting to war crimes, crimes against humanity, or genocide according to the International Criminal Court's prosecutor, Karim Khan.
With military advancements and increasing violence, Guterres warns of further fragmentation and ethnic tensions. He suggests a Ramadan ceasefire could alleviate suffering and promote sustainable peace.
Sudan's UN Ambassador Al-Harith Mohamed states the government is receptive to the UN chief's plea and reports Gen. Burhan's commendation. However, ongoing attacks by the Rapid Support Forces raise concerns on implementing the ceasefire.
UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric stresses that both parties have the power to stop fighting and that help is available to ensure peace.
Amid the ongoing conflict, Guterres warns of the enormous humanitarian impact, with half the country requiring life-saving aid, widespread food insecurity, malnutrition among children, massive internal displacement, crippled civilian infrastructure, halted education, and reports of widespread sexual violence.
As Ramadan nears, the UK's deputy UN ambassador James Kariuki hopes for a Security Council vote on the ceasefire and criticizes both the Sudanese Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces for the atrocities in Sudan. Kariuki demands unrestricted humanitarian access and calls for a shift to a civilian government that respects human rights.