The United Nations Security Council is poised to vote on Thursday on a resolution put forth by Britain, demanding an immediate cessation to the siege of al-Fashir in Sudan’s North Darfur region by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), according to diplomats.
The draft resolution, reviewed by Reuters, also calls for an end to ongoing hostilities in and around al-Fashir, as well as the withdrawal of all fighters posing threats to the safety of civilians. Britain has requested a vote on the draft by the 15-member council on Thursday afternoon.
For the resolution to pass, it needs a minimum of nine votes in favor and no vetoes from the permanent members of the Security Council—Russia, China, the United States, Britain, or France.
Conflict erupted in Sudan in April last year between the Sudanese army (SAF) and the RSF, leading to the largest displacement crisis globally. Al-Fashir stands as the last major city in the expansive western Darfur region not under RSF control. Throughout the past year, RSF and allied forces captured four other Darfur state capitals, accused of ethnically motivated killings against non-Arab groups and other atrocities in West Darfur.
In April, senior UN officials warned the Security Council about the dire situation in al-Fashir, where approximately 800,000 people face immediate peril amid escalating violence that threatens to spark broader intercommunal strife across Darfur.
The draft resolution “demands that all parties to the conflict ensure the protection of civilians, including by allowing civilians in al-Fashir to move to safer areas if desired.”
Furthermore, it calls upon nations “to refrain from external interference that exacerbates conflict and instability, and instead support efforts for a lasting peace.” The resolution reminds all involved parties and states facilitating arms transfers to Darfur of their obligations to adhere to arms embargo measures.
The United States has accused the warring factions of committing war crimes, with the RSF and allied militias also alleged to have perpetrated crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing. According to a UN report from January, ethnic violence in Sudan’s West Darfur region last year led to between 10,000 and 15,000 deaths in one city alone.
The draft text scheduled for Security Council voting “urges the conflicting parties to pursue an immediate ceasefire, aiming for a sustainable resolution through dialogue.”
