��������

NEW YORK CITY: The UN Security Council on Tuesday strongly rejected a recent announcement by one of the warring military factions in Sudan, the Rapid Support Forces, that it will establish a parallel governing authority in the territories it controls, warning that the move threatens the country’s territorial integrity and risks further escalation of the ongoing conflict.

The 15-member council expressed “grave concern” about the implications of such unilateral action and said it could worsen the fragmentation of the nation and exacerbate an already dire humanitarian crisis.

“The Security Council reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Sudan,” council members said in a statement, adding that any actions that undermine these principles jeopardize not only the future of Sudan but broader regional peace and stability.

They urged all parties in Sudan to immediately resume negotiations with the aim of securing a lasting ceasefire agreement and creating the conditions for a political resolution to the conflict. This process should be inclusive of all Sudanese political and social groups and lead to a credible, civilian-led transitional government tasked with guiding the country toward democratic elections, council members added.

A conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF, rival military factions of the country’s military government, plunged Sudan into civil war in April 2023.

The Security Council statement highlighted Resolution 2736, which was adopted by the council in June 2024 and demands that the RSF lift its siege of El-Fasher and halt all fighting in and around the region, where famine and extreme food insecurity threaten millions.

Council members expressed “grave concern” about reports of a renewed RSF offensive there and called for unhindered humanitarian access.

On Wednesday, the UN’s high commissioner for human rights, Volker Turk, condemned a recent large-scale attack by RSF forces on El-Fasher and the nearby Abu Shouk camp for internally displaced persons, in which at least 57 civilians were killed, including 40 displaced individuals.

The attack, part of a series of assaults on the camp, has intensified fears of ethnically motivated persecution as the RSF seeks to assert control over the area. Turk highlighted the dire humanitarian conditions caused by the ongoing siege and repeated attacks, describing them as serious violations of international humanitarian law.

He also cited testimonies from survivors of previous RSF attacks, including reports of killings, widespread sexual violence, enforced disappearances and torture. He called on the international community to exert pressure to help end such abuses, and stressed the importance of ensuring that those responsible for them are held accountable to break the cycle of violence in Sudan.

The Security Council also condemned recent attacks in the Kordofan region, which have resulted in high numbers of civilian casualties. Members urged all parties involved in the conflict to

protect civilians, abide by the rule of international humanitarian law, and facilitate safe conditions for humanitarian operations to take place.

They called on both sides to uphold their commitments under the 2023 Jeddah Declaration, and to ensure accountability for serious violations of international law. Council members also urged all UN member states to avoid any external interference that might fuel conflict and instability.

The Security Council reaffirmed its full support for the UN secretary-general’s envoy for Sudan, Ramtane Lamamra, commending his efforts to foster dialogue among the warring parties and civil society with the aim of achieving a sustainable peace.