International Statement Calls for Ceasefire and Sudanese Dialogue

Moatinoon
The African Union, European Union, France, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States have called on Sudan’s warring parties to resume negotiations aimed at reaching a permanent ceasefire, while stressing that Sudan’s future governance must be determined by Sudanese people through an inclusive and transparent political process.

The call came in a joint statement issued on Wednesday following a ministerial meeting in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. The meeting brought together representatives of the six parties to coordinate efforts to address Sudan’s humanitarian crisis and support the “Quintet” in establishing a civilian, inclusive and Sudanese-led political dialogue.

The statement described Sudan as the world’s largest humanitarian and displacement crisis, saying that more than two-thirds of the population — around 33 million people — need humanitarian assistance, while approximately 20 million people are facing acute food insecurity.

The signatories warned that the continuing conflict poses a major threat to Sudan’s future and risks further destabilising the wider region.

They urged the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces to resume negotiations to achieve a permanent ceasefire, particularly along the lines proposed by the “Quad”, and said they were prepared to take further action to support its conclusion and implementation.

The statement reaffirmed that Sudan’s future governance must be determined by the Sudanese people through an inclusive, credible and transparent intra-Sudanese political process that enables Sudanese-to-Sudanese dialogue and reflects the diversity of Sudanese voices inside and outside the country.

The signatories stressed that political dialogue should not be obstructed by armed actors or external parties.

They also reaffirmed their support for the work of the Quintet in facilitating dialogue aimed at ending the war and laying the foundations for a peaceful political transition, as well as for the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy in efforts to relaunch the political process in coordination with the Quintet.

The statement said that an immediate ceasefire alone would not constitute a complete political settlement. A lasting settlement, it said, should address longstanding grievances, including relations between the centre and the regions, the distribution of powers, governance and constitutional arrangements, and fiscal arrangements within a federal system.

The six parties expressed “grave concern” over findings by the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for the Sudan regarding external support sustaining the military capabilities of the parties to the conflict.

They strongly condemned the military involvement of foreign state and non-state actors and urged them to refrain from fuelling the conflict, particularly through the provision of military equipment and financial support.

They also called for compliance with the objectives of UN Security Council resolutions 1556 and 1591, and stressed the importance of strengthening UN measures to prevent arms from fuelling the conflict and enhancing the capacity of the Security Council’s Panel of Experts to monitor such support.

The statement strongly condemned violations and abuses of international human rights law and international humanitarian law by the warring parties, including the killing of civilians, attacks on civilian populations, ethnically motivated killings, indiscriminate aerial bombardments and drone strikes targeting civilians, civilian infrastructure and aid convoys.

It also condemned the use of starvation as a method of warfare, sexual and gender-based violence, and violations against children.

The signatories said they were particularly alarmed by reports documenting grave atrocities, “including those amounting to war crimes and crimes against humanity”, allegedly perpetrated by the RSF, as well as serious violations by the SAF.

They called on both sides to respect their commitments under the Jeddah Declaration and take all necessary measures to protect civilians, civilian infrastructure, essential services and humanitarian workers.

The statement said the signatories were united in their determination to promote accountability for atrocities committed during the conflict.

The six parties also condemned the arbitrary detention of humanitarian personnel and called on all warring parties to ensure rapid, safe, unhindered and sustained humanitarian access throughout Sudan.

They called for humanitarian operations to be facilitated across both front lines and borders, without undue bureaucratic restrictions and in accordance with international law and relevant UN resolutions.

The statement reaffirmed their commitment to Sudan’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity, while strongly rejecting the establishment of parallel governing structures and any actions that undermine the democratic aspirations of the Sudanese people.

The signatories also renewed their commitment to humanitarian assistance for civilians across Sudan and refugees in neighbouring countries, commending host countries, local communities and humanitarian workers, including local responders.

They called on the international community to increase humanitarian funding and swiftly implement pledges made at the Berlin Sudan Conference to help alleviate the suffering of the Sudanese people.