On the anniversary of the outbreak of the war in Sudan on April 15, 2023, between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stated that the world must not forget the people of Sudan.
According to the UN Media Center, Guterres emphasized that the situation is more than just a conflict between two warring sides; it is a war waged on the Sudanese people. It is a war on the thousands of civilians who have been killed and the tens of thousands more who have been maimed for life. It’s a war on 18 million people facing severe hunger, and on communities threatened with the terrifying prospect of famine in the coming months.
The Secretary-General warned that random attacks leading to the killing, injury, and intimidation of civilians could amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity. He noted attacks on relief convoys, their storage facilities, and humanitarian workers, as well as the rampant sexual violence against women and girls.
Guterres mentioned that the impact of the conflict has spread across borders, forcing more than 8 million people to flee their homes in search of safety, 1.8 million of whom have crossed into neighboring countries. A year after the outbreak of the war, about 25 million people—half of Sudan’s population—need humanitarian aid.
The Secretary-General highlighted the escalation of hostilities in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur. He mentioned that militias loyal to the Rapid Support Forces attacked and burned villages west of the city, leading to new displacements. The counterattacks have resulted in further deaths and injuries.
He warned that any attack on El Fasher would be devastating for civilians and could lead to a comprehensive community conflict across Darfur. It would also overturn relief operations in a region on the brink of famine, as El Fasher has always been a crucial humanitarian hub for the UN.
Guterres stressed the need for all parties to facilitate safe and immediate unhindered access for relief workers and humanitarian supplies via all available routes to El Fasher, emphasizing the need to do everything possible to ensure maximum aid reaches Darfur and other areas.
He referred to the International Humanitarian Conference on Sudan and its Neighbors, hosted in Paris by the governments of France and Germany and the European Union, stating that the Sudanese people desperately need the support and generosity of the international community to overcome this nightmare.
Guterres noted that the humanitarian response plan for Sudan for the current year had received only 6% of the required funding totaling $2.7 billion before the conference, and the regional response plan for refugee needs was funded at only 7% of the needed $1.4 billion.
The Secretary-General referred to commitments made by conflict parties in Jeddah regarding the necessity to ensure full humanitarian access across borders and front lines to deliver vital aid where it is most needed, emphasizing the need for parties to heed the call of the UN Security Council for urgent and safe humanitarian access and civilian protection.
Guterres emphasized that a political solution is the only way out of this horror, and that the Sudanese people need more than humanitarian support—they need peace and an end to bloodshed.
He highlighted the importance of concerted international pressure to cease fire in Sudan, followed by a comprehensive peace process. He noted that his personal envoy to Sudan, Ramtane Lamamra, is tirelessly working with intensive mediation efforts. This includes meeting with leaders from the Sudanese Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces, as well as leaders from across the Horn of Africa and the Gulf region, and his efforts with the African Union, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the Arab League, and several key countries.
Antonio Guterres affirmed that efforts towards peace mean continuing work on the path to democratic transition in Sudan with support and empowerment of civilians, including women’s rights groups and youth. He stated that this process must be inclusive and reflect all voices. He also confirmed that he would continue to call on all parties to silence the weapons and meet the aspirations of the Sudanese people for a future marked by peace and security.
