A group of senior foreign ministers and government officials called for an end to the fighting Sudan required. “We call on the parties to the conflict to agree to a ceasefire and humanitarian ceasefire for three months,” said a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The states said in a further statement that they condemned “systematic and ongoing violence against civilians in Sudan”. The signatories include representatives from Australia, Iceland, Canada, Norway, the UK and ten EU member states as well as German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (CDU).
“Heinous violation of international law”
The signatories described “targeted attacks on civilians, ethnically motivated mass killings, conflict-related sexual violence, starvation as a means of warfare and blocking humanitarian access” as “abhorrent violations” of international humanitarian law. If these acts are proven, they would constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity under international law, he said.
The statement mainly referred to reports of the capture of Al-Fashir by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the escalation of conflict across the North Dafur and Kordofan regions. Wadephul and his colleagues are also concerned about efforts to divide the country.
Women who fled Al-Fashir also reported killings, systematic rape and the disappearance of their children after the RSF took over. This was announced by the UN women’s organization.
Humanitarian operations “on the verge of collapse”
The International Organization for Migration also called for immediate assistance for the population in Sudan. “Despite increasing needs, humanitarian operations are now on the verge of collapse,” he said. “Warehouses are nearly empty, aid convoys face significant security risks, and access restrictions continue to hinder the delivery of sufficient supplies.”
The fall of Al-Fashir in late October consolidated the RSF’s control over the Darfur region in its two-and-a-half-year war with the Sudanese army. People fleeing the city reported shooting at civilians and drone attacks.
