The United Nations Security Council is actively discussing a British-drafted resolution urging the warring factions in Sudan to cease hostilities and ensure the safe and unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid across front lines and borders. This resolution comes at a critical time, as Sudan grapples with the aftermath of a devastating civil conflict and the world’s largest displacement crisis.
The war in Sudan erupted in April 2023, triggered by a power struggle between the Sudanese army (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), ahead of a planned transition to civilian rule. The conflict has led to widespread violence, much of it ethnically driven, particularly blamed on the RSF, though the group denies accusations of harming civilians, attributing these actions to rogue actors. In a significant development, the UN Security Council recently imposed its first sanctions on the RSF, designating two generals for their roles in the ongoing violence.
As the war continues into its 19th month, both sides have been accused of egregious human rights violations, including the rampant sexual violence against women and girls. In a statement to reporters, Britain’s UN Ambassador, Barbara Woodward, expressed grave concern about the humanitarian situation. She highlighted that over half of Sudan’s population is facing severe food insecurity, with millions displaced and the country’s infrastructure in tatters. Yet, despite this, both the SAF and the RSF remain fixated on their military objectives rather than addressing the widespread famine and suffering affecting their fellow citizens.
The U.N. estimates that nearly 25 million people, or half of Sudan’s population, are in dire need of aid. Famine conditions have worsened in displacement camps, and over 11 million people have fled their homes, with nearly 3 million crossing into neighbouring countries. The humanitarian crisis is further exacerbated by restrictions on aid access, with key routes, including the Adre border crossing with Chad, facing closure after a three-month approval from Sudanese authorities is set to expire in mid-November.
The British-drafted resolution seeks to address the critical humanitarian needs by calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities by both the SAF and RSF. It demands that the RSF halt its offensives across Sudan and urges both parties to allow full, safe, and rapid humanitarian access. The resolution stresses the importance of keeping key border crossings, such as the Adre crossing, open to allow aid deliveries into Sudan, particularly to regions like Darfur that have been severely impacted by the conflict.
The draft resolution also underscores the need for unhindered cross-line and cross-border access to deliver aid throughout Sudan, with the ultimate goal of mitigating the severe food insecurity and suffering facing millions of Sudanese civilians. These provisions echo the Security Council’s previous resolutions on Sudan, including one in March that called for a cessation of hostilities during Ramadan, and another in June demanding the end of a siege on a city in North Darfur.
For the draft resolution to be adopted, it requires at least nine votes in favor and must avoid a veto from any of the five permanent members of the Security Council— the US, France, Britain, Russia, or China. Diplomats are working to push the resolution to a vote as swiftly as possible, given the urgent need for action in Sudan.
The situation remains dire, with continued fighting, ongoing human rights abuses, and a rapidly deteriorating humanitarian landscape. The UN Security Council’s efforts to broker a ceasefire and secure essential aid access will be pivotal in alleviating the suffering of millions and possibly laying the groundwork for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
Melissa Enoch
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