Sudán y Sudán del Sur - Consejo de Seguridad, 10245ª sesión Consejo de Seguridad Date: 16 October 2026 Language: English Transcript: https://transcripts.un.org/es/sc/10245?lang=en Transcripts available through this tool are created by using automatic speech recognition and are not official records nor official documents of the United Nations. Official records and official documents are available on the Official Document System of the United Nations. --- Greece · President [0:01]: The 10,245th meeting of the Security Council is called to order. The provisional agenda for this meeting is: Reports of the Secretary-General on Sudan and South Sudan. The agenda is adopted. In accordance with rule 37 of the Council's provisional rules of procedure, I invite the representatives of Egypt, Ethiopia, and the Sudan to participate in this meeting. It is so decided. In accordance with rule 39 of the Council's provisional rules of procedure, I invite Ms. Rosemary DiCarlo, Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, to participate in this meeting. It is so decided. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of item 2 on the agenda. I now give the floor to Ms. Rosemary DiCarlo. UN Secretariat · USG [1:05]: Thank you. Madam President, in each of my briefings to this Council on Sudan this year, I reported that the situation was deteriorating, with no breakthrough on the horizon. Regrettably, today I can report that little has changed. The people of Sudan continue to face the brutal reality of conflict, enduring relentless fighting, a worsening humanitarian crisis, severe economic hardship, and the collapse of basic services. Since my last briefing, fighting has continued, most notably in North Kordofan, South Kordofan, and Blue Nile states. While these states remain the epicenters of violence, the conflict's impact extends far beyond these front lines. Across the country, drone and airstrikes continue to place civilians at risk. Particularly harrowing incidents have resulted in civilian deaths in locations as far ranging as an internally displaced persons camp in Blue Nile State an artisanal gold mine in Red Sea State, and a range of civilian sites in North Kordofan, including educational facilities, a courthouse, a university dormitory, and a shelter for displaced families. Humanitarian operations have also repeatedly come under attack. We strongly condemn the drone strike on two trucks contracted by the World Food Programme transporting lifesaving food assistance on 3 October which killed one of the drivers. These trucks were traveling in an area that has been under sustained attack by the Rapid Support Forces and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North. They were clearly marked as humanitarian vehicles and held all required travel permits. With weapons continuing to flow into Sudan, all parties Continuing to recruit fighters, the risk of further escalation in the coming months remains high. And as fighting continues to escalate, human suffering deepens. Madam President, the security situation along Sudan's borders is increasingly worrying. In a region already marked by multiple crises, the conflict continues to affect Sudan's neighbors, some of whom are facing significant fragility themselves. We urge all actors to avoid any acts that could result in conflict spilling over across borders. Preventing a wider regional crisis must remain our collective priority. The picture is bleak. Despite the immense suffering the war has inflicted on the Sudanese people, the parties continue to show no credible commitment to compromise or to pursuing a negotiated pause in fighting. They are not moving closer to dialogue. On the contrary, they seem to believe that they can make greater gains on the battlefield and that continued external support will allow them to pursue their objectives by force. Their calculations must change. We urge all external actors to use their influence to bring this war to an end, not to fuel it further. We continue coordinating with the Quad as it works to secure an agreement on a humanitarian truce, and we stand ready to support implementation of any such agreement. But we cannot afford to wait. We must pursue practical measures that could reduce violence, save lives, and alleviate civilian suffering. One such measure, with the potential to dramatically improve protection for civilians, would be for the conflict parties to immediately cease their use of drones. At a minimum, they should agree on concrete commitments and operational arrangements to strictly regulate their drone use. Drone attacks remain the leading cause of civilian casualties this year. We stand ready to work with the Quad and other partners in advancing new proposals that can reduce violence, protect civilians, and mitigate the humanitarian consequences of this war. Madam President, the personal envoy of the Secretary General for Sudan, Pekka Haavisto, is in constant contact with the parties to advance confidence building measures that could help rebuild trust, foster more constructive engagement between them, and deliver tangible benefits to the Sudanese people. Both parties have now established committees to look into unilateral releases of detainees and negotiated exchanges of prisoners. Personal envoy, working closely with UNICEF, is also engaging the parties to secure universal access to a single nationally recognized grade 12 examination for all Sudanese students. This would help safeguard educational continuity for an entire generation of young Sudanese and ensure that their future opportunities are not determined by the front lines of a war they did not choose. Further, discussions with Chadian authorities on arrangements for Sudanese refugee students in Chad are continuing. These initiatives demonstrate that practical progress remains possible even in the midst of conflict. But dialogue alone is not enough. The Sudanese people need to see results. We therefore urge the parties to translate these discussions into clear commitments and tangible actions without delay. We also call on all Member States to use their influence and resources to support these efforts and help create momentum toward a broader political process and ultimately a sustainable peace. Personal Envoy Havisto also remains closely engaged with our quintet partners to help Sudanese civilians in their efforts to unify around a political future that reflects the aspirations of the Sudanese people. In early September, the quintet principals visited Khartoum to hear directly from Sudanese stakeholders inside the country, including their perspectives on ongoing political initiatives. Engaging with the broadest array of Sudanese women, youth, and other underrepresented groups remains central to these efforts. Across all of these engagements, one message has been conveyed with remarkable consistency. Civilians want this war to end and want to return to civilian-led governance. Madam President, the political and security negotiations cannot proceed on separate tracks. They are fundamentally interconnected and mutually reinforcing. I was pleased to participate in the first Quintet-Quad meeting during the General Assembly High-Level Week, which allowed us to strengthen our coordination and reinforce a shared international approach. We can only help the Sudanese people if international actors work with unity of purpose and speak with one voice. The Sudan Consultative Group meeting in Geneva next week, bringing together the Quad, Quintet, and other key mediation actors, will be another opportunity to align our efforts, close gaps, and strengthen collective leverage in support of peace. International engagement on Sudan is gaining momentum. But the momentum must be matched by a clear commitment from the parties to end the fighting and engage seriously in a political process. In closing, I wish to recognize the upcoming anniversary of the fall of Al-Fasher. As we mark this somber milestone, we must not lose sight of the devastating human toll of this war, nor of the atrocities that have been and continue to be committed. Preventing further atrocities requires more than expressions of concern. It requires action. The parties and those who continue to enable, arm, finance, or politically support them must face far greater pressure to end this war. They must also understand that accountability is not optional. The Sudanese people have endured unimaginable suffering. They deserve peace and a credible path toward a better future. And once again, I call on the Council to use every tool at its disposal to help bring this devastating conflict to an end. Thank you, Madam President. Greece · President [10:13]: I thank Mrs. DiCarlo for her briefing. I now give the floor to those Council members who wish to make statements. I give the floor to the representative of the United States. Sorry, excuse me, sorry. Let's not jump of the United Kingdom. United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland [10:34]: Thank you, President, and I thank Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo for her briefing. This month marks the one-year anniversary of El Fashir's fall to the Rapid Support Forces and the horrific atrocities that followed. The United Nations Fact-Finding Mission has documented systematic starvation, torture, killings, rape, and deliberate ethnic targeting. Civilians slaughtered as they fled the city, patients and staff killed in their hospitals, women and girls disproportionately impacted. Accountability and supporting survivors are critical, and we must continue to learn the lessons from Al-Fasha. First, protecting civilians must be our priority. Recent drone strikes and other aerial attacks, including in the Cordofans, are a stark reminder of the growing reach and lethality of this conflict. Civilians are being killed and injured. Markets, agricultural production, and other infrastructure on which they depend are being destroyed. And as the humanitarian consequences are worsening, the IPC has warned this week of an increasing famine risk in Darfur and the Cordofans. More than 33 million people need humanitarian assistance. As Foreign Secretary Miliband said during High Level Week, we must be united in pressing the parties to protect civilians, comply with international humanitarian law and facilitate safe and unhindered humanitarian access. Parties must implement the commitments that they made in Jeddah, including by distinguishing between civilians and military targets and taking all feasible precautions to protect civilians. Second, the external support sustaining this conflict needs to end. The advancing drone capabilities we are witnessing are procured, financed, transferred, and sustained through networks outside of Sudan. All states must ensure that they are not fueling this conflict through support to the parties. Those supplying, financing and enabling this conflict must face greater pressure. And the Security Council Sudan sanctions regime needs to evolve to reflect how this war is being fought today. The United Kingdom supports efforts to strengthen the sanctions regime, increasing pressure on those supplying, financing and enabling this war, and supporting the protection of civilians. and we encourage the swift transmission to the Council and publication of the 1591 Panel of Experts final report. Third, we urgently need a diplomatic solution. The United Kingdom calls on the parties to agree a humanitarian truce, a permanent ceasefire, and an inclusive, civilian-led political process to secure a sustainable peace. We welcome the Quad and the Quintet's efforts to this end, as well as the work of the Secretary-General's personal envoy on confidence-building measures. We also welcome steps to improve coordination between the Quad and the Quintet, helping to ensure diplomatic efforts support both Sudan's longer-term future as well as efforts towards a ceasefire. And we look forward to further progress at next week's consultations in Geneva. We also note proposals for a national dialogue. Any credible process must be genuinely inclusive and Sudanese-led, giving Sudanese civilians a meaningful voice. An end to this conflict is urgent. Today, we see the devastation in Sudan also driving instability in the region. Crises across the Horn are becoming increasingly interconnected and mutually reinforcing. President, as we remember the victims of El Fasher, the imperative is clear. The parties need to protect civilians, allow humanitarian assistance to reach those who need it, and choose diplomacy over continued war. And those supplying, funding, and fuelling the war need to stop. I thank you. Greece · President [14:36]: I thank the representative of the United Kingdom for the statement. And I now give the floor to the representative of China. China [14:45]: Thank you, President. I thank USG DiCarlo for her briefing. and welcome the representatives of Sudan, Egypt, and Ethiopia. I welcome the peers of these countries to this PNE. In Sudan, the flames of war are still burning, and silencing the guns remains a long journey. Ending the sufferings of the Sudanese people is an urgent task. Recently, President Xi Jinping put forward four principles on the constructive participation of all parties in addressing the hotspot issues in Africa, which provide important guidance for handling the question of Sudan. I wish to make four points. First, it is imperative to uphold African leadership and support African mediation. A review of the peace process in Sudan shows that milestone agreements such as the N'Djamena Ceasefire Agreement, the Abuja Agreement, and the Juba Peace Agreement were all reached under African leadership. Recently, the African Union took the heads of the quintet to Khartoum, demonstrating Africa's leadership, which China welcomes. Next week, the Security Council will hold its annual consultations with AU-PSC. We must support the AU and the UN in playing their core mediation role and making use of African approaches and African wisdom to promote a ceasefire among the parties and achieve a lasting political settlement of the conflict in Sudan. Second, It is necessary to uphold fairness and justice and respect the sovereignty of Sudan. Safeguarding Sudan's sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity and opposing a parallel government is an important consensus of the international community. It is important to acknowledge the reality that the Sudanese government enjoys broad public support. We must support the government in implementing peace initiatives, holding inclusive national dialogues, and advancing a Sudanese-led and Sudanese-owned political process. Bearing in mind Sudan's unique historical, cultural, and religious conditions, among others, we must encourage all political factions to enhance mutual trust, build consensus, and properly address differences. External forces should refrain from imposing solutions. Pressure and coercion cannot bring lasting peace. Third, it is urgent to stop fighting and protect the safety and security of civilians. Recently, in Kordofan and Blue Nile State, multiple attacks occurred targeting IDP camps and humanitarian convoys. Attacks against civilians are unacceptable. The international community must urge all parties to immediately cease hostilities and strictly observe their obligations under international humanitarian law. The tragedy that took place in Al-Fasher a year ago is still fresh in our memory. Such atrocities must never be allowed to repeat. Existing Security Council sanctions must be strictly implemented. External military support or intervention must stop. Forcing an expansion of sanctions will not help curb the illicit flow of weapons. On the contrary, it will only worsen the humanitarian situation there and may even exacerbate the likelihood of division in the country. Fourth, it is important to tackle both symptoms and root causes and improve humanitarian situation there and livelihood. China welcomes the Sudanese government's decision to keep the artery crossing open. The international community must increase assistance to Sudan. support the continued coordination and collaboration between the UN humanitarian agencies and the Sudanese government to improve conditions for access and ensure safe and timely delivery. Development is a cornerstone of lasting peace. We must help the Sudanese government properly resettle returning refugees, carry out post-conflict reconstruction, repair water, electricity, and transportation infrastructure, ensure food and essential supplies, and improve public services such as education and healthcare, thereby eliminating the breeding ground for conflicts. China has always maintained an objective and impartial position on the question of Sudan and called for immediately ceasing hostilities, alleviating humanitarian crises, advancing political process, and achieving long-term stability. Since the outbreak of the conflict, China has provided multiple batches of food, medical supplies, and disaster relief assistance to Sudan. We will continue to offer assistance within our capacity and play a constructive role in helping Sudan restore peace and stability at an early date. Thank you, Chair. Thank you, President. Greece · President [19:39]: I thank the representative of China for the statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Latvia. Latvia [19:46]: Thank you, Madam President. I thank Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo for her briefing. On 26 October, we will mark one year since El Fasher fell to the Rapid Support Forces. During and after the city's capture, the RSF committed horrific atrocities, including mass killings and widespread sexual violence. The warning signs were clear, but did not lead to effective action. Today, the relentless pursuit of a military solution continues to claim lives across Sudan, including through deadly drone attacks, and threatens to deepen instability across the region. Latvia reiterates its call on the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces to cease hostilities immediately. Against this backdrop, let me make three points. First, We must sustain diplomatic momentum and translate it into progress. Latvia strongly supports the Quintet's continued efforts to advance an inclusive, Sudanese-led and Sudanese-owned political process, and we welcome the expanding consultations from Berlin to Addis Ababa, and most recently, the September visit to Khartoum. The priority now is to translate these consultations into a credible inter-Sudanese political dialogue in which women, youth and civil society are meaningfully involved in shaping its agenda and outcomes. We also fully support the continued engagement of the Secretary-General's personal envoy Pekka Haavisto. The Council must give its backing to the diplomatic efforts. Strengthening the 1591 sanctions regime is part of that response. Latvia remains convinced that its geographical scope should be expanded beyond Darfur, alongside stronger implementation of the existing measures. Sanctions alone will not deliver peace. However, a credible sanctions regime can raise the cost of atrocities and obstruction of peace efforts. Second, civilian protection cannot wait for a ceasefire or political agreement. Continuing attacks on civilians and critical civilian infrastructure underlying the urgent need for effective protection measures. All parties must comply with international humanitarian law. Attacks directed against civilians and civilian objects are prohibited and may constitute war crimes. Accountability for crimes committed is imperative. Condemnation is necessary, but it is not by itself a protection strategy. Collectively, we need to identify practical measures to prevent further atrocities, particularly where civilians face the greatest risks. We welcome the ongoing efforts of the European Union, together with the ICRC, to develop a memorandum of understanding on protecting critical civilian infrastructure, alongside other confidence-building measures. We urge the parties to engage constructively and show the flexibility needed to reach an agreement without delay. and that requires clear commitment and action. The protection of women and girls must be central to our efforts, and women themselves need to be empowered to shape them. Local women-led organizations play a critical role in identifying protection risks, supporting affected communities, and assisting survivors. They must be meaningfully involved and adequately resourced. Preventing and responding to conflict-related sexual violence is an integral part of civilian protection. Such violations must carry consequences. Latvia therefore supports the explicit inclusion of conflict-related sexual violence as a designation criterion under 1591 sanctions regime. Third, the war in Sudan is no longer simply a conflict with regional consequences. It is becoming increasingly entangled with other crises in the region, aggravating existing tensions, even as those tensions fuel the war in return. This creates a cycle of instability that risks becoming ever harder to break. This trajectory is not inevitable, yet external support to the warring parties is deepening the crisis. And we call on all external actors to stop fueling the fighting and support coordinated diplomatic efforts to prevent further atrocities against civilians and avert further regional escalation. Madam President, we must not lose sight of those paying the highest price, the people of Sudan. Their protection, dignity and future remain at the heart of Latvia's approach to this conflict. Thank you. Greece · President [24:43]: I thank the representative of Latvia for the statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Denmark. Denmark [24:50]: Thank you, Madam President. And I also thank Under-Secretary-General Di Carlo for her briefing. Madam President, this is the last mandated meeting, a briefing on Sudan this year. However, it must not mark the end of the Council's attention and engagement of Sudan. Indeed, by every measure, this conflict continues to worsen and must remain high on our agenda. The central facts are well known. Across Sudan, civilians continue to be killed, displaced, starved, and subjected to sexual violence, while there is a chronic impunity for those committing those atrocities. External support continues to sustain the Party's military capabilities and belief in military victory. We must therefore be clear. Civilians cannot be made to pay with their lives while political solutions are waiting. As a Council, we must pursue both objectives with equal urgency. This includes support for confidence-building measures, including Personal Envoy Harvester's engagement over de-escalation, education, and detained civilians, and EU Special Representative Webers' work with the parties to protect civilian critical infrastructure. Such measures do not need to be conditional on a comprehensive settlement. In parallel, efforts to reach a political settlement must continue. Denmark strongly supports the Quintet's work towards an inclusive, Sudanese-led and owned political dialogue. We also support urgent efforts by the United States to secure a humanitarian truce leading to a permanent ceasefire, and we encourage continued coordination between the Quintet and the Quad. Madam President, As mentioned by USG DeCarlo, we approach the first anniversary of the atrocities in El Fasher committed by the RSF, and we recall the Fact-Finding Mission's finding of a genocidal campaign. The obligation is not only to remember, but to prosecute those responsible and to prevent repetition. We are horrified by reports that a drone strike near a displacement site in Wadi Al Mahdi in Blue Nile State killed at least 31 civilians, mostly women and children. Frontlines shifting back and forth, and as we've seen in the Kordofan, bring reprisals and insecurity for civilians amid a widening drone war. This must stop. Madam President, turning to the humanitarian situation. We are deeply concerned by the recent IPC alert, which paints a stark picture of catastrophic food insecurity in Darfur and Kordofan. While we welcome the extension of humanitarian access through the Atro border crossing, this must be sustained and complemented by predictable permissions, safe movement and access. The recent attack on two WFP trucks demonstrates just how dangerous it is to deliver aid in Sudan. We strongly condemn this and other such attacks and call for an immediate investigation. Madam President, we urge Council members to discharge the 1591 Committee's mandate fully, including through publishing the Panel of Experts' final report without delay. Denmark also supports efforts to strengthen the sanctions regime to reflect the severity and geographic scope of the conflict. This includes action against those responsible for atrocities and those enabling the war. The very same logic applies to the mandate of the International Criminal Court, which the Council should extend to cover the entire country. For the UN, the conflict in Sudan requires a system-wide response, one that benefits from the full weight of the Secretary-General's good offices, one that connects mediation, humanitarian operations, human rights monitoring, accountability, and civilian protection. one that is firmly backed by this Council and coordinated with and supported by regional efforts. In closing, two years ago, this Council received recommendations from the Secretary-General on the protection of civilians in Sudan. These remain relevant today, as the need for protection has become so much more pressing. Denmark calls on the Council to urgently revisit those recommendations and examine how we can take them forward and build on them. Sudanese civilians do not need another statement or commemoration after the next atrocity. They need action now to prevent it. I thank you. Greece · President [29:24]: I thank the representative of Denmark for the statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Somalia. Somalia · A3 [29:36]: Madam President, I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the A3, namely the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Liberia, and my own country, Somalia. We thank the USG, DiCarlo, for her comprehensive presentation. We also welcome the participation of the permanent representative of Sudan in today's meeting. Madam President, I'd like to make an interjection here on a personal note. I happen to know Sudan and I happen to know its people. I was there for high school education in the early 50s for four years. And since then, I kept visits and contacts For the last three years, what we have been hearing and seeing in Sudan gives me pain after pain after pain. Madam President, after more than three years of conflict, Sudan's humanitarian and protection crisis continues to worsen. Civilians face continued hostilities, mass displacement, acute food insecurity, disease outbreaks, and the collapse of essential services. The A3 are deeply concerned by escalating violence in Northern Kordofan, Blue Nile, and Darfur. We are particularly alarmed by the RSF attacks in and around Al-Obeid, the growing use of drones, and the mounting risks to civilians and displaced communities. We are equally concerned by recent attacks affecting displaced populations in Blue Nile State. The A3 strongly condemn atrocities committed by the RSF, including attacks against civilians, civilian infrastructure, humanitarian personnel, and operations, conflict-related sexual violence, and other grave violations of international human law. All those responsible for serious violations of international humanitarian law and human rights violations must be held accountable. All parties must uphold international humanitarian law and protect civilians. We call for the removal of all implements to relieve operations. Humanitarian assistance must remain impartial and free from politicization. We also urge the international community to address funding shortfalls and scale up lifesaving support. Madam President, recent political and diplomatic engagements offer opportunities that must be encouraged. We call for an immediate and unconditional cessation of hostilities and reaffirm that there can be no military solution to this conflict. The A3 welcome the Government of Sudan's efforts to advance a Sudanese national dialogue and contribute to a durable political settlement. These efforts must ensure meaningful participation by women, youth, civil society, and a broad spectrum of Sudanese political actors. We welcome the efforts of the Secretary-General's personal envoy, Mr. Pekka Haavisto, as well as the joint good offices mission by the African Union, United Nations, IGAD, League of Arab States, and European Union. Regional and international initiatives must remain coherent and complementary. We note the African Union Peace and Security Council's field mission and continued engagement. We welcome its reaffirmation of Sudan's sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity, the preservation of state institutions, and an African-led, Sudanese-owned political process. The A3 support the Sudanese National Initiative for Peace as a framework for reconciliation and encourage its inclusive implementation in alignment with the African Union roadmap. We firmly reject all parallel governance structures that undermine Sudan's sovereignty, unity, and national institutions. Madam President, the continued flow of illicit arms and advanced weaponry, together with the involvement of foreign mercenaries and external recruitment and support networks, including those reportedly supporting RSF operations, are fueling the conflict and prolonging human suffering. We reject external interference and call on all external actors to cease military support, financing, or other assistance that sustains hostilities. All actors must comply with relevant Security Council resolutions and support peace efforts. Efforts to end the conflict must also address illicit natural resource exploitation, including gold, that help finance the war. Those who enable these violations must be held to account. The A3 reaffirm their unwavering commitment to Sudan's sovereignty, independence, unity, and territorial integrity. Lastly, peace requires an inclusive, Sudanese-led and Sudanese-owned political process that preserves state institutions, protects civilians, and leads to the resolution of constitutional order and response the democratic aspirations of the Sudanese people. I thank you. Greece · President [37:57]: I thank the representative of Somalia for the statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Panama. Panama [38:08]: Thank you, Madam President. We would like to thank Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo for her updates on the situation in Sudan. And we extend a warm welcome to the Permanent Representative of Sudan to this meeting. We recognize the presence of the representatives of Egypt and Ethiopia, distinguishing us with their presence in Sudan. One year after the taking over of Al-Fashir by the Rapid Support Forces, The atrocities committed against the people of Sudan remain an open wound and a warning of the high cost of impunity. Summary executions, conflict-related sexual violence, and ethnically motivated attacks must be unequivocally condemned. At present, the fighting in Kordofan and the continued drone attacks are still claiming lives and threatening a new escalation of atrocities against the civilian population. As long as the parties continue to prioritize a military solution, and as long as external support flows that sustain those capabilities persists, the prospects for a political solution will remain limited. The Sudanese people and their young people must not continue to be held hostage to military ambitions or to the external interests that fuel this war, whose human cost is borne by those who never chose it. Panama welcomes the recent renewal of the mandate of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for Sudan. Its work will continue to contribute to preserving evidence establishing accountability, and laying the groundwork for the prompt administration of justice. Moreover, the new Integrated Food Security Phase Classification alert of 12 October warns of a growing risk of famine in parts of Darfur and Kordofan. In response, safe and sustained humanitarian access is required, genuine protection of civilians, and funding that is commensurate with needs. On the political front, Panama welcomes the recent visit of the Quintet to Khartoum and its consultations with authorities, political actors, and representatives of Sudanese civil society. This visit reflects the value of coordinated diplomacy and sustained engagement. Panama considers it essential that these efforts continue with a view to achieving an early cessation of hostilities, greater humanitarian access, and the creation of conditions conducive to a political process that will strengthen democratic institutions in respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Sudan. We also welcome the renewed efforts of the QUAD to achieve a humanitarian truce. Madam President, the sanctions regime established pursuant to Resolution 1591 must respond to the current realities of the conflict. A sanctions regime that does not respond to the dynamics of the conflict risks losing its deterrent effect. This is why we recognize the usefulness of strengthening certain elements of the sanctions regime in order to curb the flow of arms that exacerbates hostilities and to limit the external support that contributes to prolonging the conflict. In this regard, Consideration should also be given to the views of the Sudanese authorities and the position of the African Union in this regard. We support expanding the designation criteria for sanctions listings to include those who order, commit or facilitate conflict-related sexual violence and kidnappings for ransom. The Council must also ensure that the panel of experts has the conditions necessary to investigate violations of the arms embargo, identify those responsible, and recommend concrete measures. Madam President, this is the last mandated meeting on Sudan during Panama's two-year term on the Security Council. We remain convinced that the expansion of hostilities and the persistence of restrictions on humanitarian access require the Council to keep Sudan among its priorities. Given that Sudan represents one of the most serious humanitarian and human rights crises in contemporary history, sustained international attention will be essential. We call on the current and future members of the Council particularly its African members, to sustain diplomatic action, curb the flows of arms that prolong hostilities, and support a viable political path to end the conflict. The future of Sudan cannot continue to be determined by military logic or shaped by external interests. It is up to the Sudanese people to decide it. and to the international community to help ensure that Sudan can do so in conditions of peace and security. Thank you very much. Greece · President [44:00]: I now give the floor to the representative of Bahrain. Bahrain [44:04]: Thank you, Madam President. At the outset, I would like to thank Ms. Rosemary DeCarlo. Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, we thank her for her valuable briefing on the latest development in the brotherly Republic of Sudan. We also welcome the participation of the representatives of the Republic of Sudan, of the Arab Republic of Egypt, and the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia at this meeting. Madam President, during the high-level week of the United Nations General Assembly, intensive consultations were held on the situation in Sudan. The Kingdom of Bahrain appreciates these efforts. They created a new political momentum towards a peaceful and sustainable solution. So as to translate these efforts into practical steps which could alleviate the suffering of the Sudanese people, I would like to underscore the following points. First, the Kingdom of Bahrain encourages the continuation and intensification of international and regional efforts aimed at ending the conflict, including the efforts made by the Quintet and the Quad. We also welcome the efforts made by the United States, guided by the Senior Advisor to the President for Arab and African Affairs, Mr. Massad Boulos, in order to achieve a humanitarian truce that would pave the way for a permanent ceasefire and the launch of a comprehensive Sudanese-led political process. This would contribute to achieving security and stability and preserving Sudan's unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity. Second point, the Kingdom of Bahrain reiterates that protecting civilians and ensuring the rapid and unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance are urgent priorities in light of the continuing conflict. with the risk of its repercussions spreading to the countries of the region and the worsening humanitarian needs. In this context, we strongly condemn the attacks targeting humanitarian aid convoys, humanitarian workers, the displaced persons and their shelters, including the air strike on two trucks contracted by the World Food Programme in South Kordofan on 3 October, which resulted in the death of the driver, as well as the explosive device incident that struck one of the Programme's trucks in the city of El-Dilling on 2 October. Attacks against displaced persons in the Blue Nile and North Kordofan states also resulted in the killing and injury of a number of civilians, including children. The Kingdom calls on the international community to redouble its efforts so as to alleviate the suffering of the displaced and the refugees. And we stress the need for all parties to comply with international humanitarian law and to protect civilians and the humanitarian personnel. We also commend the efforts made by the United Nations and its partners in supporting the humanitarian response in Sudan. We also welcome the decision to keep the Adre border crossing open. and the ongoing regional cooperation to ensure security and continuity of humanitarian corridors, thereby guaranteeing that humanitarian assistance reaches those who need it. Third, we emphasize the importance of ensuring the continuity of essential services, particularly water and health care, in displacement areas. It is also essential to protect the vital facilities that civilians depend on. Furthermore, we stress the importance of mitigating the consequences of disruptions to supply chains and rising transport and energy costs resulting from threats to navigation through the Straits of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb and the tension in the Horn of Africa region. We also need to assess the potential impact of various factors that may affect agricultural production and food security in Sudan. And in this regard, we call for limiting cross-border repercussions of this crisis through enhanced regional and international cooperation. And we stress the need to protect vital maritime routes to ensure freedom of navigation, safeguard commercial traffic, and facilitate the delivery of humanitarian supplies. In conclusion, Madam President, the Kingdom of Bahrain affirms that alleviating humanitarian suffering and advancing political efforts are two responsibilities which are inextricably linked. And we call for building on existing diplomatic initiatives through practical steps that protect civilians and open prospects for sustainable peace for the brotherly Sudanese people. I thank you. Greece · President [49:47]: I thank the representative of Bahrain for the statement. I now give the floor to the representative of the United States. United States of America [49:55]: Thank you, Madam President, and thank you, Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo, for your informative briefing. Colleagues, every day that this conflict persists is unacceptable. Civilians are being killed across Sudan, not only by the lethal weapons and mercenaries that continue flowing into the country, but also by hunger and health concerns exacerbated by the conflict and the expanding risk of famine. We need a humanitarian truce. Let me repeat that. We need a humanitarian truce. A humanitarian truce would alleviate the persistent suffering of the Sudanese people, and we will continue to work with the parties to achieve that end. However, Peace efforts and political efforts need to be mutually reinforcing. We cannot have real dialogue that includes civilians from across Sudan and those sheltering abroad if we do not have a humanitarian truce. That is why the quintet's work to establish an inclusive political dialogue is so critical. And let me just say, we really appreciate the work of Mr. Havisto on this file. Mr. Havisto's leadership of the quintet cannot be overstated, because the quintet-led effort is the most viable and credible path to lay the foundation for a peaceful political transition to civilian-led governance. This Council should clearly and emphatically support the establishment of a political process that focuses on achieving a comprehensive political settlement and a unified Sudan that preserves state institutions and is accountable to its people. Any national political dialogue must be Sudanese-owned and led. It must be free from interference by violent extremist groups linked to internationally designated terrorist groups, as well as those who have committed atrocities against the Sudanese people. We must all reject efforts to conduct forum shopping or establishing competing political dialogues. It is time to restore peace and give power back to the Sudanese people. But in order to empower the Sudanese people and to transition to a civilian-led government, this Council must take concrete action to stop the never-ending flow of weapons into the country. Drone attacks and airstrikes continue to kill and injure scores of civilians every day, with no sign of slowing. Just last week, we saw a horrific strike on a displacement shelter in Blue Nile State, reportedly by the RSF. that killed more than 30 internally displaced persons. Days before, an attack on a World Food Program convoy killed a driver, the ninth aerial attack on WFP operations in Sudan this year alone. This must stop. An expanded arms embargo will raise the cost of continued conflict and impede the ability of external actors to provide military support to the warring parties. The United States will continue to push to expand the sanctions regime to better reflect the realities of a conflict that now spans the entire country. We must also address the deepening threat of severe food insecurity in parts of Sudan. Over the course of this conflict, famine has been declared multiple times, and the risk of another famine declaration looms large. As the harvest season begins in Sudan, we call on the parties to provide protection not only for civilians, but also for food systems, including farmlands and markets, as well as the safe movement of food. In the face of growing extreme food insecurity, an effective humanitarian response is critical. We continue to call for unhindered humanitarian access. Aid workers need air access to Darfur now. They often spend days traveling overland to Darfur. Air access will reduce their travel time from days to hours and will give humanitarian organizations the ability to conduct medical evacuations for their staff, enabling a greater humanitarian presence. Aid workers also need more time on the ground in Darfur. Currently, the travel permits that UN staff receive are too short in duration, and they experience long wait times when seeking to renew them. These administrative constraints are hampering the humanitarian response, and we urge the Sudanese authorities to provide timely, regular access to Darfur. Finally, despite the ongoing conflict, some refugees and IDPs are making the decision to return. Upon return, they face many challenges, including damaged infrastructure, lack of basic services, unexploded ordinances, and in some cases, finding their home or land occupied by others. Recognizing the determination and resilience, and I've had the privilege to meet dozens of these refugees personally earlier this year, I can say the bravery of these returnees, we call on the parties to facilitate the free, safe, and voluntary return of refugees and IDPs, including the return of property when safe to do so. The United States stands ready to work with each member of this council. to support the quintet's efforts to advance an inclusive civilian political process and reinforce efforts to achieve a humanitarian truce and unhindered humanitarian access, which will ultimately save lives and prevent further bloodshed. I thank you. Greece · President [55:50]: I thank the representative of the United States, and I give the floor to the representative of France. France [55:58]: Thank you, Mr. President, and I thank Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo for her briefing and her messages. This is one of the worst conflicts in the world at the moment, and I welcome the representatives of Sudan, Egypt, and Ethiopia. The assessment is unequivocal. Despite the efforts of the African Union and this Council of the international community, and a year following the atrocities committed during the taking of Al-Fashir by the Rapid Support Forces, the humanitarian disaster affecting the Sudanese population and the ongoing military stalemate are plunging Sudan into an ever more deadly and devastating war. The reason is clear, simple, the stubborn determination of the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces to continue fighting. It must be recalled, there is no military solution in Sudan. The continuation of the war increases the risk of the country's partition. The disintegration of Sudan would be in no one's interest, and France reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the unity and territorial integrity of Sudan. Moreover, The continuing regionalization of the conflict could draw us into a particularly dangerous dynamic of warfare, dangerous for the Horn of Africa and beyond, as we can see by the increasingly dangerous events taking place on the borders of the country. Mr. President, we have identified five priorities today. First, the Sudanese armed forces and the rapid support forces must without delay agree to a humanitarian truce. as requested by the United States, followed by a nationwide ceasefire throughout Sudan. This Council has called on them to do so repeatedly. France supports all diplomatic efforts in this regard, particularly those of the Quad for Sudan, and I particularly welcome the presence of Washington in favour of this humanitarian truce. The Council must stand ready to support any potential agreement. Secondly, Foreign interference must cease. France therefore calls on all States to end all military, financial or logistical support to the parties. The embargo and the sanctions regime currently in force in Darfur must be respected, and we must extend their scope to the entirety of Sudanese territory, in line with the reality of the conflict on the ground. Third. The relaunching of a political dialogue involving all political forces and civil society is essential to enable lasting peace. We welcome the efforts undertaken in this regard by the Sudan Quintet, particularly those of the Secretary-General's personal envoy, Mr Pekka Havisto. The efforts of the Quad and the Quintet are complementary. in order to put an end to the fighting, to restore democracy in Sudan. We support also all efforts of the African Union to fully play its role. Fourth, we must continue our efforts to respond to the humanitarian crisis. France welcomes the holding of the Berlin conference on 15 April this year, which secured 1.5 billion euro in pledges. The OCHA response plan, however, remains insufficiently funded, and we must therefore intensify our efforts here. France is doing everything within its power to do this. Let us recall that under international law, the parties must ensure safe and unhindered humanitarian access throughout Sudan. Finally, there can be no impunity for crimes committed in Sudan, crimes which independent experts from UN bodies have assured us that constitute war crimes and, in the worst cases, crimes against humanity. We supported the adoption of the Security Council sanctions against RSF generals responsible for atrocities committed during the capture of El Fasher. Let us continue our efforts in this regard. We also condemn the growing targeting of humanitarian personnel whose lives are increasingly at risk in Sudan and call for the full implementation of resolution 2730. No party will gain legitimacy by attacking humanitarian workers. Mr. President, peace can return to Sudan only through the restoration of a legitimate civilian authority, enabling the people to recover their sovereignty and for the country to fully exercise its sovereignty. A prior ceasefire is indispensable, which necessarily will require a negotiated solution between the warring parties. The Council's responsibility is clear to exert its full weight in support of this goal. Thank you. Greece · President [1:01:14]: I thank the representative of France for their statement. I now give the floor to the representative of the Russian Federation. Russian Federation [1:01:25]: Mr. President. We are grateful to Rosemary Giacallo for her briefing, and we welcome the participation at this meeting of the representatives of Sudan, Egypt, and Ethiopia. For three and a half years now, Sudan has been experiencing a confrontation between the regular army, which is subordinate to the legitimate authorities represented by the Sovereignty Council, and the rebel Rapid Support Forces. As a result of the predatory tactics of the latter, the number of refugees and internally displaced persons is in excess of 13 million. There is a shortage of food and medicines. Enormous damage has been done to the country's economy and infrastructure. According to information we receive, in recent weeks, government forces have achieved significant successes in the states of North and South Kordofan. Amongst other things, they managed to eliminate the imminent risk of the city of El-Obeid falling into the hands of the rebels. At the same time, the RSF continue actively attacking army positions and civilian facilities, making extensive use of drones. Russia consistently advocates preserving the unity, territorial integrity, and sovereignty of Sudan. We regard the Sovereignty Council as the highest legitimate authority in the country. We consider the steps it has taken to advance the political process and launch an inter-Sudanese dialogue to be important and useful. In contrast to that, we observe destructive attempts by the RSF to establish a parallel government in the territories under its control. We are closely following the efforts made by international mediators, which, however, have not yet produced tangible results. Given the multitude of competing peace initiatives, including the quintet involving the UN, African Union, IGAD, League of Arab States, the European Union, and the quad composed of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, United States, and the UAE, We believe it would be advisable for the United Nations to play the central role in consolidating various approaches. Attempts by some Western states to impose political settlement formulas on Sudan, as well as to place the Sovereign Council and the RSF on an equal footing, are counterproductive. It will proceed from the premise that external mediation efforts should complement UN facilitation. It's important to maintain an honest and substantive dialogue with the country's government and to place the preservation of national state institutions at the forefront. To this end, it's necessary to abandon the flawed logic that none of the parties to the conflict possess genuine legitimacy. Mr. President, Russia has repeatedly voiced its position regarding the Security Council sanctions on Darfur. Given the continuing difficult security situation and the risk of escalation of inter-ethnic conflict in the region, We consider it justified to maintain the Council's restrictions unchanged. The tools already available under the sanctions regime are entirely sufficient for adopting restrictive measures against individuals and groups who commit violence or violate international law and international humanitarian law. We believe that expanding the geographical scope or introducing new listing criteria does not correspond to the current realities in Sudan and risks impacting only the country's legitimate government. We hope that in December the Council will be able to adopt a decision on the technical extension of these sanctions in the current form for a lengthy period. And this would also be important for the full-fledged work of the Council's 1591 Sanctions Committee panel of experts, whose renewal risks being delayed precisely because of the very short duration of the resolution's mandate. I thank you. Greece · President [1:05:22]: I thank the representative of the Russian Federation for the statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Colombia. Colombia [1:05:32]: Thank you, Madam President. Colombia welcomes the briefing of Under-Secretary-General de Carle, and also we welcome the presence of Sudan, Egypt, and Ethiopia at the meeting. For our country, it is absolutely clear that the arms embargo must be respected. This is a key element of any of the conflicts that we have discussed in this Council, but again, is another one that could be a decisive factor to shift the dynamics of the conflict. Colombia also agreed that it is absolutely necessary to expand the sanctions regime contained in resolution 1591 to cover all criminal activities and actions taking place at this moment. Colombia is naturally very concerned for the famine, a new famine declaration in the middle of this starving session. And we also believe that it is absolutely important for all countries that sit at the Security Council to support the efforts of the United States and as well as the request of France regarding the humanitarian aid. We salute the efforts both of the United States and United Nations regarding the refugees that will be soon returning to the country, and also the value that it takes for these people to return in the middle of the the humanitarian situation. The world naturally needs to support both refugees and IDP persons and return persons to the country. Madam President, Colombia robustly condemns the recent air attack, which, according to monitoring human rights organizations, has caused the death of at least 72 people in a mining area. And the use of drones continues to be a determining factor in the conflict, which is worsening the political and military situation, as well as the humanitarian situation, in, of course, violation of resolution 1591 and of the arms embargo that has been established. We also believe that the Council has an important tool at its disposal to respond to and reduce violence, provided that We extend those sanctions to cover the reality of the conflict. Finally, we would like to express our support for the mediation efforts led by Mr. Havisto and also the work of the quintet and various regional players committed to finding a political solution. We cannot allow us to lose hope here for the Sudanese people. Mediation continues to be the main path to stop violence, to address the humanitarian crisis, the food crisis, and extend humanitarian access and build conditions for peace that are sustainable. Colombia will continue to support all efforts aimed at achieving an inclusive political solution that is Sudanese-led and supporting efforts that are being made by the United States, France, and the United Nations in this regard. Thank you. Greece · President [1:09:17]: After the statement, I now give the floor to the representative of Pakistan. Pakistan [1:09:22]: Thank you very much, Madam President. I thank USC DeCarlo for the comprehensive briefing. The tragedy in Sudan has continued for far too long. Throughout our engagement in this Council, Pakistan has been guided by two overriding objectives: alleviating the suffering of the Sudanese people and preserving Sudan as a united, sovereign, and stable state. Sudan is a brotherly country. Pakistan reaffirms its unwavering support for its sovereignty, unity, independence, and territorial integrity. We remain equally convinced of the importance of preserving Sudanese state institutions. The fragmentation of the state or the creation of parallel political and governance structures cannot provide a pathway to peace. The suffering of the Sudanese people remains immense. Civilians have borne the heaviest burden of this conflict. The somber anniversary of the El Fashir tragedy is a grim reminder of the horrors faced by them. the atrocities committed by Rapid Support Forces in Darfur, including in El Genina and El Fasher, and the continued fighting in Kordofan, underlying the urgency of ending the conflict. All parties must respect international humanitarian law, protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, and facilitate safe, rapid, and sustained humanitarian access. Madam President. Pakistan has consistently maintained that there can be no military solution to this conflict. Ultimately, peace must emerge from a Sudanese-led and Sudanese-owned political process, enjoying the confidence of the Sudanese people and engaging the Sudanese authorities. In this regard, we welcome the growing coherence in the international mediation efforts. We appreciate the work of the Quintet, the African Union, United Nations, EGAD, League of Arab States, and the European Union, and its recent engagement with the Sudanese authorities. We particularly welcome the renewed engagement of the African Union Peace and Security Council with Khartoum. The various diplomatic initiatives should reinforce one another. On 1591 sanctions, The latest report of the panel of experts highlights continuing violations of the existing arms embargo and illustrates the networks and external support that enable armed actors to sustain the conflict. The appropriate response is to strengthen implementation of the measures already agreed by the Council and close the enforcement gaps. Sanctions must serve a political purpose. They are a means to support peace, not an end in themselves. They should neither substitute diplomacy nor weaken Sudanese state institutions and their capacity to maintain stability and protect civilians. Madam President, the way forward requires greater convergence around three priorities. First, an immediate end to the violence, protection of civilians, and sustained efforts toward a credible cessation of hostilities. Second. an inclusive Sudanese-led political process, supported by the United Nations and regional partners, with the African Union playing its due role; third, implementation of the existing arms embargo, as the flow of weapons, financing and other support continues to fuel this war. Pakistan will continue to stand with the people of Sudan and to support a peaceful, united, sovereign, and prosperous Sudan. I thank you very much. Greece [1:12:59]: I thank the representative of Pakistan for the statement. I shall now make a statement in my capacity as the representative of Greece. I would like to thank Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo for her comprehensive briefing and her continued engagement in Sudan. As the conflict continues into its fourth year, the suffering of the Sudanese people remains acute. We hope that ongoing diplomatic efforts will soon lead to tangible progress on the ground. Allow me to focus on three key priorities. First, the protection of civilians. We remain deeply alarmed by the continued violence, particularly in Darfur and Kordofan, as well as in Blue Nile State. and by reports of air and drone strikes causing civilian casualties, including among displaced families who have already fled their homes in search of safety. Recent drone attacks on a displacement shelter in El Obeid and near a displacement site in Blue Nile State, reportedly killing and injuring civilians, including women and children, underscore the urgent need to protect places of refuge. We reiterate our profound concern about the situation around El Obeid and the risk of further escalation and mass atrocities. We condemn attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure and urge all parties, including SAF and RSF, to respect their obligations under international humanitarian law and international human rights law. Civilians seeking to flee areas affected by hostilities must be allowed to do so safely, while those who remain must be protected. Those responsible for serious violations must be held accountable. Second, the deteriorating humanitarian situation The latest alert by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification system highlights growing risk of famine in parts of Greater Darfur and Greater Kordofan. Severe drought conditions associated with El Nino, combined with ongoing hostilities and constraints on humanitarian access, risk further aggravating an already devastating situation. We urge all parties to facilitate safe, rapid, sustained, and unhindered humanitarian access, remove administrative obstacles, and ensure the safety of humanitarian personnel. The starvation of civilians as a method of warfare is prohibited under international humanitarian law and must never be tolerated. Particular attention must be paid to the situation of women and children. Millions of children continue to suffer from displacement, food insecurity, and lack of access to education and health care. Women and girls remain especially vulnerable to conflict-related sexual violence and other forms of gender-based violence. Their protection, access to essential services and accountability for violations must remain central to the humanitarian response. Third, the need to advance a political solution. Greece reiterates its call for an immediate cessation of hostilities, including through a humanitarian truce, paving the way towards a durable ceasefire and a credible political process. We welcome the ongoing diplomatic engagement, particularly the increasingly coordinated efforts of the quintet, and reiterate our support to the Secretary General's personal envoy Pekka Haavisto. We also commend the efforts of the Quad, particularly those of Mr. Massad Boulos, US Senior Advisor for Arab and African Affairs, as well as the engagement of regional actors, including the African Union, towards a peaceful resolution of the conflict. Greater coordination among these initiatives is essential to support a genuinely Sudanese-led and Sudanese-owned political process leading to a civilian-led transition with the meaningful participation of women, civil society, and all relevant Sudanese stakeholders. We firmly believe that a negotiated settlement remains the only viable path towards lasting peace. We are also concerned by the continued flood of weapons and external support that prolong the conflict and undermine mediation efforts. In this regard, we reiterate our support for strengthening the effectiveness of the 1591 sanctions regime, including through extending its geographical scope to the entire territory of Sudan. We hope for a swift conclusion of the current discussions on the renewal of the sanctions regime for Sudan. Dear colleagues, any lasting solution must fully respect Sudan's sovereignty, unity, independence, and territorial integrity. Towards this end, we reject any attempts to establish parallel governing structures that risk further fragmenting the country. The Security Council must continue to work collectively towards elevating human suffering and supporting a peaceful resolution of this conflict. Greece remains committed to contributing to this effort. I thank you. I resume my functions as President of the Council. I now give the floor to the representative of Sudan. Sudan [1:18:43]: In the name of God, the merciful, the compassionate, Madam President, I thank you, and I say I thank the Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, Ms. Di Carlo. Madam President, distinguished members of the Security Council, despite the bleak picture that Dr. Di Carlo has explained in her briefing, The rays of hope are in the horizon. I would like at the outset to mention the letter that was sent in light of the recent developments that have shaped peace efforts and the anticipated role of the United States. where His Excellency President Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the chairman of the Transitional Sovereignty Council, sent a letter to His Excellency President Trump, affirming the following. Sudan appreciates his interest in achieving peace, particularly his announcement on the 19th of November, 2025, of the US administration's intention to end the war in Sudan. Peace is the strategic choice. since the government launched its Sudanese vision to end the war in 2024. This vision was embodied in the Jeddah Declaration of May 2023 under the sponsorship of the United States and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Sudan submitted technical observations concerning the protection of civilians and the rights of Sudanese communities, with clear and binding arrangements for implementation and verification, paving the way for a permanent ceasefire and a comprehensive peace that preserves Sudan's sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity. The success of any humanitarian truce aimed at protecting civilians requires ending the militias' control of civilian facilities and homes. This necessitates an agreed timetable for the militias' withdrawal to assembly points under international monitoring, the removal of foreign mercenaries from Sudanese territory, and the curbing of arms and financial flows to the militia. This is essential to prevent the truce being exploited to rearm the militias responsible for genocide and to prevent the partition of the country. It would also support the unification of the various military forces under a single national army structure that performs its constitutional duties professionally and effectively. Security Council Resolution 2736 granted Sudan national ownership of the peace process. Therefore, any peace agreement must enjoy public acceptance and include predetermined implementation mechanisms. Specific measures must be taken against those fueling the war and entities supplying the militia with weapons, funding, and mercenaries. International efforts must be made to dismantle networks involved in the war, to sustaining conflict, and the proliferation of illicit weapons among non-state armed groups in the region. It is necessary to preserve the capacity of state institutions to protect civilians, enforce the law, carry out their duties in protecting the country, maintain unified representation, and undertake reforms that sustain peace and prevent a security vacuum. commitment to a civilian democratic transition so that the Sudanese people may determine the future system of governance through an inclusive national dialogue inside Sudan, alongside a single national army, guarantees for peaceful political participation, and accountability for crimes. This would prevent the use of armed control as a means to gain entitlement to rule the country or to legitimize parallel administrative entities or individuals. Madam President, while the government is preparing for the Sudanese-Sudanese dialogue based on national ownership, which you have all supported, in accordance with Security Council Resolution 2736, We stress the inclusive character of this dialogue and its objectives of social peace and national reconciliation as proposed by the civilian Prime Minister. The process will involve multiple national stakeholders and will aim at expanding the civilian space and addressing the devastation caused by the war. It will also aim at achieving consensus among diverse civilian political forces to stop the war, combating hate speech and racism, and repairing fractures in the Sudanese social fabric, uniting efforts for reconstruction and addressing the humanitarian crisis, fighting impunity through transitional justice and accountability for perpetrators of atrocities and war crimes. silencing the guns of aggressors and mercenaries through constructive engagement with the African Union Peace and Security Council, whose high-level delegation recently visited Khartoum and reaffirmed respect for Sudan's sovereignty, territorial integrity, national unity, and for the aspirations of the Sudanese people for stability, development, and democratic governance, while rejecting attempts to establish parallel governments or entities that threaten the unity of Sudan. Strengthening national consensus and ensuring an inclusive political process leading to free and fair elections. A preparatory committee for the Sudanese-Sudanese dialogue has been established. to advance peace efforts under Sudanese national ownership. The committee initiated consultations on participation criteria, working methodology, and representation without imposing predetermined outcomes. By doing so, the committee is expanding the space for pluralistic national dialogue to achieve national consensus and manage peacefully differences. Positive peace is not merely a written document to end the war. Rather, it is a pluralistic process that seeks to address root causes and prevent future recurrence of the conflict. To strengthen the committee's role, the president of the Transitional Sovereignty Council, General Abdelfattah al-Burhan, issued guarantees and exemptions that include dropping legal complaints against Sudanese opposition figures based on their political positions and providing temporary legal immunity and protection for dialogue participants. Under these immunities, no criminal proceedings may be taken against participants based on their opinions or positions. This will also include facilitation and protection, and the government will not interfere in selecting dialogue participants, setting agendas, or determining outcomes. in order to ensure the contributions from Sudanese living abroad and enhance inclusivity and independence based on the Sudanese ownership. The government's role will be limited to providing legal guarantees, security protection, logistical support, and protection for participants. It will refrain from interfering in the dialogue or attempting to influence it. The dialogue will include the following stakeholders: political and civil forces, local administrations and local communities, women, youth and girls, refugees and IDPs, professionals and academics, civil society organizations, business leaders and the private sector, representatives of regions and states, vulnerable sectors affected by the war. To ensure legal accountability and prevent impunity, independent mechanisms will be addressed, or rather independent mechanisms will address atrocities, violations, and the rights of victims. Regional and international partners may provide logistical support, capacity building, and expertise without attempting to influence parties in the national dialogue. The dialogue process, its sponsorship, and its outcomes will not be outside Sudan. The Sudanese-Sudanese dialogue will not be confined to the elite. It will be led by an independent national committee following the creation of conditions conducive to peace. In its final stages, dialogue should be held inside Sudan with a broad and inclusive participation. The state's position is that the war will end with the defeat of the externally supported rebellion. This necessitates the elimination of the military power of the Rapid Support Forces, which seeks to impose a foreign political agenda through armed force. Therefore, a Sudanese-Sudanese dialogue is a necessity to end the war. Sudan, therefore, demands the withdrawal of rebel forces from towns and sites they occupy in violation of the Jeddah Agreement of May 2023. This should be followed by disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration. This is an essential condition because widespread weapon possession by armed groups seeking political power through force remains the principal obstacle to peace. The army command argues that restricting weapons to the state is the key factor for achieving peace. We should learn from past mistakes. when we left weapons in the hands of armed groups. As long as there are parallel armed groups or forces that are competing with the state authority, ending the war requires disarming these groups and preventing them from using armed force to contest the central authority of the federal states. Therefore, the shortest path to democratic governance is ending the military rebellion. The militia launched the war based on military superiority and sought to seize power while attempting to dismantle the national army on behalf of regional sponsors and to replace the army. The vision of the political opposition is overtly or covertly in line with the vision of the RSF. This means that military force of the militia will not end with a ceasefire. Rather, they will move from being an armed belligerent to being part of the subsequent security structures. We should avoid granting the Rapid Support Militia political and military incentives without a due consideration to the genocide and atrocities it perpetrated in full view of the world. Madam President, the Government of Sudan has a central vision as follows. It includes addressing the humanitarian crisis in cooperation with the UN and humanitarian partners, expanding safe corridors for the delivery of relief assistance, lifting the siege on Darfur and Kordofan, protecting civilians, IDPs, and camp residents, ensuring the return of refugees and IDPs to their homes, releasing prisoners, abductees, and detainees through a national, UN, and regional mechanism in cooperation with the UN and the personal envoy, taking confidence-building measures, and creating a conducive environment for free dialogue, achieving community peace and national reconciliation, respecting international law and international humanitarian law, guaranteeing the right to life and the freedom of safe movement for civilians, achieving transitional justice, respecting human rights, ensuring the engagement of women, youth, and civil society, securing democratic legitimacy as the basis of governments at the end of the transitional period and holding of general elections, securing the legitimacy of the army's role in defending the sovereignty and territorial unity of the country, and expanding civic space and achieving broadest possible societal inclusion. As for humanitarian action, the Government of Sudan decided to keep the Adre border crossing with the Republic of Chad open for humanitarian assistance for an additional three months, from 1 October to 31 December 2026. To facilitate the delivery of aid to affected civilians, the Government of the Sudan is cooperating continuously with the UN and humanitarian partners, with the aim of completing monitoring and oversight arrangements, enhancing transparency, and ensuring that assistance reaches those in need in accordance with national laws and international humanitarian law. The Sudan has never obstructed humanitarian assistance. Actual humanitarian funding for the UN Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan for 2025 did not exceed 37.2 percent, leaving a funding gap of 62.8 percent by mid-2026. The gap between humanitarian assistance and humanitarian response needs across different sectors reached approximately 63%. As a result, 15.5 million people are not receiving multi-sector humanitarian assistance. Government efforts in cooperation with UN agencies, partners, and friendly and brotherly countries facilitated humanitarian access to more than 18 million affected persons in 2025. The competent authorities issued 108 movement permits covering 13 states for a number of UN agencies and international organizations. More than 5 million citizens returned through the various border crossings. Fourteen internal routes were approved across 18 states, as follows. These are the ports and crossings open to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian assistance. Port Sudan seaport, open to all countries. Port Sudan International Airport, open to all countries. Adre border crossing with the Republic of Chad. Tinnein land crossing with the Republic of Chad. Argine Halfa land crossing with Egypt. Ashqin land crossing with Egypt. Khartoum International Airport. Kadouqli International Airport. Kassala International Airport. Renk-Joda land crossing with South Sudan. Kosti River port with South Sudan. El-Obeid International Airport. El-Fasher International Airport. Dongola International Airport. As for drones, the RSF militia has continued to use drones steadily, targeting the cities in Kordofan, Blue Nile, White Nile, and River Nile states, destroying fuel stations, water sources, and bridges to displace civilians and forcibly remove them from their homes, and to harm agricultural production. It was targeting the city of El Obeid on a daily basis using suicide drones. Drones are also being launched from neighboring countries, targeting the Blue Nile region and the power stations of the Rosiris Dam. On the 30th of May, an Ethiopian drone was shot down in Kor al-Dahab, on the border between the two countries, while it was photographing sites and roads up to 45 kilometers inside Sudanese territory. The drone war intensified on the 4th of May 2025 with the targeting of Port Sudan port, oil and hydroelectric facilities, Osman Digna air base, and the radar station in Flamingo. These aerial attacks required sophisticated planning, exceeding the militia's capabilities. systematic drone aggression by a militia accused of committing genocide constitutes a violation of the 1977 Organization of African Unity Convention for the Elimination of Mercenarism in Africa and the 1989 International Convention against the Recruitment, Use, Financing, and Training of Mercenaries. It is also a violation of the UN Charter, Security Council Resolution 2736 of 2024, and the first and second additional protocols to the Geneva Conventions that prohibit targeting civilians, and prohibit disrupting of the functioning of states. Between the end of September and the 4th of October, the militia launched more than 20 suicide drones targeting areas in North Kordofan state. The nature of the war confirms that the militia is the party that is systematically and repeatedly employing suicide drones following the decline in the number of fighters within its ranks. shortage compensated for by its regional sponsor through the recruitment of mercenaries and the enhancement of ongoing technical supplies to target safe cities vital facilities and civilian Gatherings in order to vacate the cities increase the rates of massive displacement halt Market activity impose a new map of cantones and to Target the agricultural agricultural production and supply chains the militia seeks to open multiple military fronts in the cities of nala alin sodari and deat they are operating from command and drones are using drone launching sites and storage facilities managed by foreign personnel and crews. Up to August 2026, violations committed by the militia resulted in looting, pillaging, and burning of property in 29 villages, the killing of 55 civilians, including women and children, 200 cases of enforced disappearance, and hundreds of injuries. The number of families affected by the violations reached 60,000 in the Shaykh an area in Kordofan. In Jabra al-Shaykh, 38,000 families were displaced. More than 100,000 head of livestock were looted. 220 civilians were killed, and nine water stations were destroyed. In Bara, 22 water sources were destroyed. 88 civilians, including women, children, and the elderly persons, were killed. Property was looted and pillaged. 58,000 families were affected and forced to flee. In Western Bara, 12,000 families were affected by the forced displacement of civilians. 50,000 head of livestock were rustled. Agricultural crops were destroyed. 53 civilians were killed, including 28 elderly persons and 16 children. In Sodari, the original inhabitants were forced to leave and replaced by foreigners. Property and crops were looted. 7,000 families were displaced. The Sudanese army succeeded in shooting down three hostile suicide drones that crossed the border from Ethiopia into the Blue Nile region. the militia has been launching its attacks against residents and civilians from the Asosa area. The war in Sudan has gradually become an enterprise that led to the establishment of arms trafficking markets, networks of organized violence, increased illicit financing, and the looting of valuable resources stretching from Darfur to the Sahel. The rebel network that is targeting the security of states has resorted to armed terrorist groups. Sales of ammunition destined for the Rapid Support Forces militia have been documented. These operations include involved in gold smuggling in the Sahel, groups affiliated with ISIS, heavy DSHK and DKT machine guns and rocket launchers have also been transferred to groups and individuals associated with the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara and the Azawad Salvation Movement. It has been established that the Islamic State was awaiting the arrival of 25 drones and was using a site southeast of Al-Kufra and areas near its airport to receive foreign fighters and modify vehicles. There has also been a notable increase in the number of Ilyushin aircraft observed in Al-Kufra, from 10 aircraft during the period of April 2024 to March 2025 to 143 in December 2026, at the same rate previously observed in Umdjaras Airport. We thank you for your efforts, and we will be cooperating with you and the Security Council to walk on the path of peace. We expect from the Security Council to visit the Sudan We will be welcoming all to see with your own eyes the destruction, the significant destruction caused by the militia, so that states that call for expanding the arms embargo to include the Sudanese case, so that they realize that this would be a mistake. I thank you. Greece · President [1:39:17]: I thank the representative of Sudan for the statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Egypt. Egypt [1:39:43]: The. Greece · President [1:39:50]: Excuse me, can you... for the moment. Egypt [1:40:01]: Sure. Speaker 33 [1:40:01]: Okay. Greece · President [1:40:07]: Please. Egypt [1:40:10]: Madam President, I thank the Presidency of the Council for holding this session. I thank USG DiCarlo, USG for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, for her briefing of the developments in the Sudan. The war has been going on for more than three years. It has led to a humanitarian catastrophe. It has threatened the stability and unity of the Sudan. The war has cast deep shadows on the stability at regional levels. All those following the developments are cognizant of the burden that Egypt specifically is carrying as a result of the humanitarian and economic repercussions of this conflict. Egypt continues to provide assistance to more than 1.5 million of our Sudanese brethrens. We share historical and human ties with the Sudanese people. Egypt expresses grave concern over the military escalation and the expansion of confrontations, especially in some areas that are witnessing repeated attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure. Egypt warns specifically of the dangerous situation in the Blue Nile State. We warn of the repercussions if escalation in these areas continues. It would lead to more waves of displacement and the humanitarian situation will deteriorate even further. We condemn in the strongest terms violations by the militia against civilians. Those operatives cannot evade accountability, and those responsible for grave violations must be held accountable. These practices must stop, and we must confront the networks and entities that continue to fuel the conflict. In this context, Egypt expresses its surprise that the international community is overlooking, and specifically this council, is overlooking the serious engagement with evidence, evidence that are damning. As a direct neighbor to the Sudan, is implicated in facilitating these egregious attacks by mercenaries and the militia, including through drones, attacks against the Blue Nile states specifically, there is no logical justification for the hesitance of the Council. It could at least warn these neighboring countries, indicating that it should not fuel the conflict and it should not attack civilians and civilian infrastructure. It's not supposed to be terrorizing these civilians and fueling attacks by the rebel militia. Madam President, Egypt is following with great concerns the discussions in the Security Council on the future of the UN sanctions regime on Darfur, established pursuant to Resolution 1591 of 2005. Egypt stresses that it is important to preserve the effectiveness of this regime to confront threats against the brotherly Sudanese people, especially continued violations of the arms embargo to Darfur and to address supply networks that fuel the conflict. It is also important that any discussions on developing the sanction regimes must take into account the nature of the current challenges. Discussions must be based on an objective assessment of the effectiveness of existing measures and their impact. Any proposed measures should not weaken the institutions of the Sudanese states, or undermine its ability to bear its national responsibility of extending security and protecting civilians. It is important to distinguish between the role and responsibilities of the national state institutions represented by the Sudanese armed forces. They have responsibility for protecting civilians on the one hand. And on the other hand, we have the efforts of mercenaries and militias. They are terrorizing civilians, and they seek to make material gains using national resources of the Sudan. And this leads to loss of lives among civilians, young people, and children. So we have to distinguish between these two issues. Sanctions should remain a tool. for the international community to contribute to ending this conflict, to protect civilians from militias, from mercenaries. Sanctions should not be an end of it itself, a way to change the balance of power in favor of one party against the other, or taking away the tools of the armed forces the tools that allows the armed forces to maintain the sovereignty and territorial integrity and unity of the Sudan. Madam President, Egypt reiterates that preserving the unity of the Sudan and the resources of the Sudan is a priority that is non-negotiable. Any approach to settle the conflict must be based on this principle. It must reject the establishment of any parallel entities or institutions. Against this background, direct dialogue, constructive dialogue with the government of the Sudan must be at the forefront of international efforts, especially in light of what Khartoum has announced repeatedly. It is willing to engage constructively with initiatives aimed at ending the war. In this regard, the government of Sudan has engaged with the efforts of the Quad to reach a humanitarian truce. The government and the Presidency Council presented their identical vision for a Sudanese-led and Sudanese-owned political dialogue away from any diktats or external interference. This is a vision that the international community should be engaging with seriously. It is important to ensure the complementarity between the Quad and the Quintet to ensure that political messages are identical and to ensure that there is no competition between the different initiatives. We highly value the role played by Mr. Pekka Haavisto, the personal envoy of the Secretary General. He seeks to bring the different points of view together. We also value the constructive role by the African Union, especially through the Peace and Security Council of the African Union. Egypt is willing to play a primary role in coordinating between the two mechanisms, the Quintet and the Quad, to contribute to elaborating a realistic and implementable path to end the conflict. This would contribute to unite the messages and the priorities of the international community. It would lead to a coherent vision on how to support Sudan in its political process. Egypt is making tireless efforts to keep the channels of communication open between mediators and Sudan. Most recently, this was attested to by the meeting held in the new Alamein city at the beginning of this month under direct sponsorship by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. In conclusion, we cannot consider the conflict in Sudan in a way that is separate from the highly complex regional situation, especially as tensions are rising in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea. Hotspots in some neighboring countries persist. There is an increasing interrelation between political and security conflicts in the region. There is increasing external interference and increasing transnational armed activities. We warned of the effect of all these factors on each other through the flow of weapons, through displacement through increasing activities, organized crime, and the increasing risks of military confrontations along the borders. The continued war in Sudan, therefore, contributes to fueling instability in the region. And the conflicts around the Sudan perpetuate the conflict in Sudan. This would lead to a vicious cycle of instability in the region. We stress that all parties or regional parties must practice maximum restraints and must refrain from any unilateral measures that would widen the confrontations and lead to a regional spillover. I thank you, Madam President. Greece · President [1:51:30]: I thank the representative of Fiji for the statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Ethiopia. Ethiopia [1:51:43]: Thank you, Madam President, for giving me the floor. My delegation expresses gratitude for taking this initiative to convene today's important meeting. I would also like to thank USCG DiCarlo for her briefing. Madam President, as a close neighbor, Ethiopia is deeply concerned about the ongoing conflict in Sudan and the immense suffering it continues to inflict on civilians. The loss of lives, the displacement of communities, a destruction of livelihoods, underscores urgent need for immediate de-escalation of violence and for prioritizing humanitarian access for those in need. The well-being and protection of the Sudanese people must remain at the center of all efforts to address the crisis. Ethiopia reaffirms its respect for Sudan's sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political independence. We believe a sustainable and lasting solution to the conflict can only emerge through a Sudanese-owned and Sudanese-led political process that reflects the aspirations of the Sudanese people. External prescriptions or imposed outcomes risk deepening divisions and prolonging instability. The stability of Sudan is essential not only for its own citizens, but also for the stability of the wider Horn of Africa region. Peace and security in Sudan is closely interconnected with regional security and cross-border peace and cooperation. Continued instability in Sudan risks undermining collective regional progress and exacerbating humanitarian and security challenges. Ethiopia stands in solidarity with the people of Sudan during this difficult period. As a close neighbor with deep historical, cultural, and economic ties, And as a constructive partner for peace in the region, Ethiopia remains committed to supporting efforts that promote peace and stability in Sudan. It is, however, deeply regrettable that the Sudanese representative has decided to throw a baseless accusation against my country, an accusation we categorically reject. My government, in due consideration of the deep fraternal bonds between the two nations usually refrains from escalatory media exchange. We are trying to address even grave violations of Ethiopia's territorial integrity and national security committed by some actors in the Sudanese civil war through bilateral channels, however difficult it may be. Ample evidence of Sudanese arms smuggled into Ethiopia will be made available in due course. At the same time, Ethiopia continues to be concerned about the impact of the escalating violence in Sudan on Ethiopia's cross-border security. Increased insecurity along shared border areas risks exacerbating humanitarian pressures, disturbing local livelihoods, and creating conditions that could further destabilize the border regions. Countries in the sub-region must ensure that their territories are not used to carry out cross-border attacks that undermine the security of other neighbors. I would like, once again, to reiterate our categorical rejection of baseless accusations made against Ethiopia, and as a neighbor, Ethiopia strongly wishes to, to wishes the swift, the swift resolution of the conflict in Sudan. We believe this is important first and foremost to end the suffering of the Sudanese people. We are also aware that there are actors in the region eager to, to use the conflict in Sudan to further their policy of destabilization in the Horn of Africa. In this context, Ethiopia rejects actions that complicate efforts towards a peaceful, Sudanese-owned resolution of the crisis. In this regard, we are deeply concerned by recent reports indicating that a neighboring state of Sudan is actively and openly participating in the civil war in the Sudan, including through operating drone bases. Additionally, Disturbing media reports have emerged indicating that airstrikes and artillery fire originating from a neighboring state of Sudan has killed scores of civilians and artisanal gold miners within the Sudanese boundary. The lives of Sudanese civilians must not be treated as expendable, and no security justification can excuse unlawful attacks on civilians or civilian infrastructure. Ethiopia emphasizes that any regional engagement should support rather than undermine Sudan's sovereignty and security of its people. Ethiopia's regional position in the Horn of Africa and Addis Ababa's role as the headquarters of the African Union provide a conducive setting for diplomatic engagement on continental and regional issues. Ethiopia, as always, remains committed and ready to support efforts for lasting solutions. Ethiopia further reaffirms its unwavering commitment to maintaining constructive relations with the Republic of Sudan based on mutual respect, sovereign equality, and shared interests. Ethiopia will continue to work closely with the African Union, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, the United Nations, and all relevant partners to promote dialogue, regional stability, and sustainable peace in the whole of Africa. Ethiopia believes a sustainable and lasting peace can only be achieved through a Sudanese own and Sudanese-led political process that reflects the aspirations of Sudanese people. At the same time, efforts by the international community should support and facilitate such a process while respecting Sudan's sovereignty and the ownership of the Sudanese people. As always, Ethiopia remains ready to contribute constructively to regional and international efforts aimed at supporting dialogue and stability in the Sudan. I thank you. Greece · President [1:59:00]: I thank the representative of Ethiopia for the statement. There are no more names inscribed on the list of speakers. I now invite the Council members to informal consultations to continue our discussion on the subject. The meeting is adjourned.