Sudan and South Sudan - Security Council, 9822nd meeting
Security Council
Date: 19 December 2024
Language: English
Transcript: https://transcripts.un.org/ru/sc/9822?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.

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United States of America · President of the Council [0:14]:

The 9,822nd meeting of the Security Council is called to order. The provisional agenda for this meeting is: Reports of the Secretary-General on the Sudan and South Sudan; The agenda is adopted. Let me start by warmly welcoming the distinguished ministers and other high-level representatives present in the Security Council Chamber. Your presence today underscores the importance of the subject matter under discussion. In accordance with Rule 37 of the Council's Provisional Rules of Procedure, I invite the representatives of Egypt, Sudan, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates to participate in this meeting. It is so decided. In accordance with rule 39 of the Council's provisional rules of procedure, I invite the following briefers to participate in the meeting: Mizita Mosornu, Director, Operations and Advocacy Division, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs; Ms. Shana Lewis, Preventing and Ending Mass Atrocities Senior Advisor and Sudan Specialist; and Mr. Saad Baraldin, the Sultan of Dar Masalit. It is so decided. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of item two of the agenda. I'd like to give the floor to start to Ms. Edem Wasornu.


OCHA · Director, Operations and Advocacy Division [2:12]:

I'm delivering this statement on behalf of Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Mr. Tom Fletcher. USG Fletcher is currently traveling and sends his apologies for being unable to connect. The war in Sudan has raged for over 20 months, and its horrendous human toll continues to show. Fierce hostilities in populated areas escalating and spreading with evident disregard for international humanitarian law. Civilians killed and injured in unbearable numbers. Millions stalked by the threat of famine in the world's largest hunger crisis. Sexual violence rife. Education and health care facilities in ruins, while cholera and other diseases spread. Large swathes of the country cut off from reliable telecommunications, and families continue to flee, with over 12 million people, around one quarter of the population, displaced since last April. 3.2 million people have sought safety in already fragile areas in neighboring countries. Meanwhile, the volume of humanitarian aid reaching people in need remains a fraction of what is required. Mr. President, this is a crisis of staggering scale and cruelty, one that demands sustained and urgent attention. This is why Under-Secretary-General Fletcher visited Sudan and Chad during his first trip as Emergency Relief Coordinator. He held intensive discussions with the Sudanese authorities, on the need to scale up the humanitarian response, protect civilians throughout hostilities, and end sexual violence as a tool of war. During these discussions, there was agreement on the importance of an increased humanitarian presence on the ground in key locations, including Zalingei as a base for operations across Darfur, and the need for more predictable and sustained cross-line access. Immediately after his meeting with USG Fletcher, the President of the Transitional Sovereign Council announced that humanitarian organizations would be able to establish hubs and regular flights to Blue Nile, North Kordofan, and South Kordofan. He also announced increased support for movement of humanitarian personnel. The United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Sudan is leading with urgency efforts to build on this progress. On the visit, Under-Secretary-General Fletcher also listened to local communities and frontline humanitarian teams in displacement sites in Port Sudan area, Kassala State, and Jenina in West Darfur, which he was able to reach via the Adre crossing from Chad. Under-Secretary-General Fletcher launched, alongside Sudanese women, the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence campaign, a global initiative particularly important in Sudan. He also had the privilege to meet and listen to Mr. Saad Badr al-Din, Sultan of Dar Masalit in Port Sudan, who will also brief this Council today. In eastern Chad, Under-Secretary-General Fletcher met with Sudanese refugees, Chadian refugee returnees, and the communities hosting them. Local and international responders are overwhelmed and under-resourced, and conditions desperate. The Under-Secretary-General announced an immediate allocation of $5 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund to support the response in eastern Chad, but communities and responders need more. Mr. President, we have seen some positive momentum on access. Permission to use a critical Adre border crossing extended for three more months. A surge in food assistance, including the World Food Program convoy reaching Zamzam camp in North Darfur on 22nd November, the first United Nations food convoy to the camp since famine conditions were confirmed in July. And international NGO partners were able to airlift lifesaving supplies into Blue Nile and South Kordofan states. However, tentative hopes for progress have now been tempered by renewed hostilities. A second World Food Programme convoy to Zamzam was delayed by an escalation of fierce fighting, including shocking reports of repeated shelling on the camp itself, which has sent thousands of people fleeing. Recent days have seen further reports of civilian casualties due to apparently indiscriminate attacks, including aerial bombardment and artillery shelling in El Fasher and other areas of Darfur. An airstrike on a crowded market in Kabkabiya, North Darfur, last week reportedly killed dozens of people and injured many more. Operations in El Fasher's primary hospital were suspended due to an alleged missile strike last Friday, with patients among the casualties. Fighting also continues in Al-Jazira and Khartoum. And alarmingly, hostilities are spreading into new areas. In the south of the country, clashes in White Nile and Blue Nile states are driving displacement, including into South Sudan and threatening a key border crossing. Mr. President, last month, Under-Secretary-General Fletcher witnessed firsthand the incredible courage and resilience of the women, children, and men in the face of this senseless war. He was struck by the determination and commitment of local and international humanitarians dealing with exceptional challenges, and by the generosity of host communities in Sudan and eastern Chad. The international community now needs to do more to fulfill its responsibilities. Under-Secretary-General Fletcher has set out three key asks for the Council today. First. unequivocal demand that the parties must comply with international humanitarian law. The appalling civilian toll must end. Essential infrastructure and services must be spared, and sexual violence must be stopped. The recommendations in the Secretary-General's October report on the protection of civilians in Sudan should be implemented in full. Second, using your influence to ensure all humanitarian relief routes Road and air across conflict lines and borders are open. Bureaucratic impediments must be lifted and permits and visas for incoming personnel issued swiftly and efficiently. Humanitarian personnel and their assets must be protected. Third, money. In 2024, humanitarian organizations faced significant funding gaps. We call on donors to provide the 4.2 billion U.S. dollars that humanitarians need to support nearly 21 million people inside Sudan next year, and the 1.8 billion needed to support 5 million people, primarily refugees in seven neighboring countries. We will bring intensity, energy, creativity to the humanitarian mission. But ultimately, the only way to end this cycle of violence, death, and destruction is for this Council to rise to the challenge of delivering lasting peace in Sudan. I thank you.


United States of America · President of the Council [10:08]:

I thank Ms. Osorno for her briefing. I'd like to give the floor now to Ms. Shana Lewis.


Sudan Specialist and Senior Advisor [10:19]:

President, Excellencies, Thank you for the opportunity to brief you today on the urgent need for this Council to adopt a resolution on civilian protection in Sudan. My name is Shana Lewis. I am the Sudan specialist and senior advisor with PAMA. Civilian protection relies on the belief that a system like this body can and will ensure safety. But belief is a fragile thing. If this body cannot do more to protect the people of Sudan, it won't just be their lives at stake. it will be the very credibility of this Council and its members as well. The scenes of brutality in Sudan keep many of us awake at night. Earlier this year, I collected the testimony of a young Darfuri woman who was gang-raped in her family home. Her father beat against the door of the room she was trapped in, trying to save his baby girl. In return, the RSF troops shot him dead for daring to protect her. Much like this brave father, this esteemed Council has the chance to save the lives of Sudanese women and boys, girls and men. Over decades, this very Council developed rich policy on civilian protection, yet the international community has failed the people of Sudan across 20 months of war. Footage abounds of forms of brutality that defy human consciousness, and no person should have to bear witness to you. But this Council must. Must demonstrate through action that the imperiled lives of 49 million Sudanese will not be abandoned to the whims of armed men. There are some in this chamber who claim that any action by the UN to protect civilians would violate Sudan's sovereignty. Indeed, We heard this argument when the Russian delegation vetoed the Sudan resolution last month. But sovereignty comes with responsibility, the responsibility to protect civilians. It is not a blank check to conduct war crimes. If Sudan's de facto authorities are unwilling and unable to fulfill this paramount responsibility, this council is required to act in accordance with its mandate. Make no mistake, this is a war against the people of Sudan, especially Sudanese youth who dared to stand up in the face of 30 years of oppression, dared to dream of a future defined by freedom, peace, and justice. And for daring to speak truth to power, the people of Sudan are now suffering amidst the trifecta of the world's largest displacement, food insecurity, and protection crises. all due to a war that, by some estimates, has taken the lives of over 150,000 civilians. Meanwhile, external backers that continue to finance and benefit from the war, benefit from the death, rape, and starvation of Sudanese, must be held to account through sanctions. These backers, including the United Arab Emirates, must not be allowed to profit from Sudan's smuggled and blood-drenched gold. Members of this Council with strong ties to these external backers must demonstrate that they value the lives of Sudanese civilians over partnerships with maligned actors. To do so would not require innovation from this Council, but the will to protect civilians in Sudan by not only enforcing the existing arms embargo and sanctions regime, but expanding it. President, Excellencies, I do not envy your task of upholding international peace and security within this challenging geopolitical climate. Yet in Sudan, we are not facing a lack of options, rather a lack of ambition. The Secretary-General's recommendations for the protection of civilians were most welcome. However, many in civil society felt that they failed to match the severity of the crisis in Sudan. Let me be clear. It is the lack of a nationwide ceasefire that demands that this Council takes action to protect civilians in Sudan. The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court believes that the Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese Armed Forces have committed atrocity crimes in Sudan. Though we must be careful to not draw a false equivalency between the actions of the Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese Armed Forces, Any and all commissioning of atrocities must be condemned and stopped. Earlier this month, the Sudanese armed forces conducted airstrikes on a market in Kabkabiya, North Darfur, killing over 100 people. Meanwhile, the atrocities of the Rapid Support Forces stretch across the breadth of the country. The UAE-backed RSF is committing genocide in Darfur, from Artamarta to El Geneina, Khartoum to El Fasher, And now they are cleansing famine-stricken Zamzam, Sudan's largest camp for internally displaced people. The RSF is attempting to finish the genocide that began over 20 years ago, and the RSF is succeeding. We must and can do more to address these threats against Sudanese civilians. One of the greatest threats is the ongoing telecommunications blackout. Over 30 million civilians have been unable to access the internet and phone lines for almost 12 months, leaving them severed from the outside world. This council should send an independent technical assessment team to create a plan to repair, restore, and protect networks across Sudan. President, excellencies, you have the power to break the blackout in Sudan and stop the belligerents from hiding their atrocities from the world. It is Sudanese civilians and civil society that continue to keep eyes on Sudan. The international community must urgently support Sudanese civil society in safe documentation for accountability purposes. Though the RSF and SAF consented to self-compliance mechanisms, they continue to commit serious rights violations. This Council risks complicity if they continue to allow belligerents to set their own standards for civilian protection. General Burhan and Hemeti will never hold themselves accountable, which is why this Council must support the work of the International Criminal Court and the Independent Fact-Finding Mission for Sudan. Crucially, this Council must stop ignoring the recommendations of the UN's own investigation by upholding the fact-finding mission's recommendation for the deployment of, and I quote, an independent and impartial force with a mandate to protect civilians in Sudan." This Council, in partnership with the African Union, must also consider a remote monitoring mission for Sudan, which would be a fraction of the cost of previous physical deployments and would prevent further atrocities through early warning and early action systems. If civilians are not dying from a bullet or bombs from the sky, they are dying from preventable famine. Though concerted negotiations have secured progress and humanitarian access, the aid trickling into Sudan is only delaying death, not saving lives. Whilst the UN continues to negotiate unimpeded access, donors must immediately scale up funding to the Sudanese humanitarian response. President, Excellencies, I implore us all to not forget the future of Sudan. Over half of the displaced population are children. and hundreds of thousands are missing out on essential early childhood vaccinations. 19 million Sudanese children have not sat in a classroom since the outbreak of this war. And though the postponed national exams are due to take place on December the 28th, many will not be able to take them. We are at risk of losing an entire generation. And the world will not remember the geopolitical excuses. the world will remember the hundreds of thousands of lives lost, the genocide that occurred on our watch, yet again. Without your action to protect civilians, the youth-led vision of peace, justice, and freedom will remain a distant dream. Sudan's advancements toward civilian leadership are at risk of being destroyed. Sudanese youth have peacefully demonstrated and died for these very freedoms since 2018, and today continue to risk their lives whilst providing life-saving humanitarian assistance to their community members through emergency response rooms and other grassroots initiatives. They are the beacon of hope of Sudan, and you have the power to save their lives. Thank you.


United States of America · President of the Council [19:42]:

I thank Ms. Lewis for her briefing. And I give the floor to Mr. Saad Baraldin.


Sudan · Sultan of Dar Masalit [19:56]:

Thank you. In the name of God, the merciful, the compassionate. Thank you, Mr. President. I would like to thank the two briefers, Ms. Adam and Ms. Shina. And I would like to assure you that the content of these two briefings is accurate in most of what it presents. But I would also like to mention that the most -- the bloodiest and the most tragic part was not reflected in these briefings. I do not expect those who have seen bodies of women and bodies of children that were killed as a result of the bombardments in al-Jenina to be ignored. I am Saad Abd al-Rahman Bahri al-Din, the Sultan of Dar Masalit, which is in Western Darfur in Sudan. I would like to thank the Security Council, the presidency, and members of the Council. You all represent your countries in this Council. And we hope that you will save the Sudan by adopting strong and strict measures. and that you will save the Sudanese people from this tragedy and from this major crisis. Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen, members of the Security Council, I would like to express my gratitude for giving me the opportunity to participate in this important meeting. This is indeed an extremely important meeting. I would also like to thank the Member States of the Security Council, which supported my participation in this session. Allow me, Mr. President, at the outset to mourn the loss of thousands of the people of Dar Masalit, Al-Junayna, and from Sudan in general. those who have paid with their life in Al-Fasher, Zamzam, Al-Jazira, Omdurman, and all over Sudan as a result of this devastating war. May their soul rest in peace. I also wish a swift recovery to the wounded and all the injured. We hope that the refugees, the migrants, and the displaced will safely return to their homeland. Mr. President, allow me as well to give you a brief introduction of the Sultanate of Dar Masalit. This Sultanate is in West Darfur in Sudan. Its capital is the city of Aljunayna. This Sultanate is a social and cultural melting pot. It is inhabited by diverse tribal and ethnic groups, and the Massalit tribe represents the majority of its population. The sultan of the Massalit is the highest traditional authority and one of the symbols of the region since tens of years. and he is extremely important for the Masalit of Sudan and the Masalit in neighboring countries. Today, I represent the seventh sultan in a chain that dates back to more than 150 years of continuous succession. Mr. President, since 2003, the Sultanate of Dar Masalit have witnessed armed conflicts between various factions, which included foreign militias. These conflicts reached their peak between the 23rd of April 2023 and today. The war erupted in Dar Masalit only one week after it erupted in Khartoum. When the war reached Dar Masalit, which is 2,000 kilometers away from the capital, the people among the Masalit tribe and other tribes were systematically targeted at a large scale owing to their ethnic identity and the color of their skin. The most hideous crimes were perpetrated against them. These crimes include genocides that haven't been witnessed in our modern history anywhere else. The city of Al-Junaynah was besieged It is the headquarters of the Sultanate and the capital of West Darfur. It was under siege for two months by the Rapid Support Forces. All the entry points were closed. And the city was totally besieged by the Rapid Support Forces, and they started bombarding the city. to be followed by successive attacks around the clock from all sides against that city. This wanton aggression was waged by foreign mercenaries who were brought during the siege and they prevented the entry and exit of the population of food and of water. Snipers were stationed around water sources and vital regions. Southern neighborhoods, where the majority of Masalids were also under a systematic attack, attacks. Properties were looted. Homes were set to fire. Governmental and private institutions were burned. Crimes perpetrated included indiscriminate killing, torture, the rape of women, genocide against the Masalit tribe. I myself was among those on the hit list. This hit list includes a large number of tribal leaderships among the Massalit. It also includes educated people, students, and others. I was compelled to flee my home in Al-Junaynah after staying there under siege for 56 days. I fled my home at night to help the wounded, whose number exceeded 2,000. Their situation was deteriorating and on one day, 20 to 25 young people died because of their injuries and we could not provide them with any kind of treatment because of the lack of medicine, drugs. and other medical tools or supplies that could have helped them. So I fled my home at night on foot in very harsh conditions. I walked for 14 hours under the rain. I wanted to cross 28 kilometers only. Those 28 kilometers took me 14 hours to avoid some areas and some passages. So I had to walk all this time, although I am old. These crimes led to the killing of 10,000 people, to the wounding of tens of thousands. These crimes displaced no less than 1 million people who had to flee to neighboring Chad. Western American newspapers and TV channels have documented all these practices and they expect the numbers to be much greater. I was burying the corpses myself and I was looking at these bodies on the streets and in the homes. And I tried to be everywhere to help bury these bodies properly. Movement was extremely difficult, extremely dangerous. Mr. President, among these criminal practices targeting my people, the Masalit, by the Rapid Support Forces and their allied militias from the neighboring countries, I mentioned the burning of people alive, burying people alive. And I think that you have all seen this video, which showed that wounded people were being buried alive, and that there were young people, children, and students who were being killed. And I am sure of the veracity of these facts. Mr. President, members of the Council, those who have lost their life and those who have fled to neighboring countries, those whose bodies were dragged in public like the wali, Al-Khamis, who was killed by the Rapid Support Forces. And we bear witness to that because the video is clear and it shows what the Rapid Support Forces have done. He was arrested by the RSF in West Darfur, and there is a video available on the net that we can show you as a Council or as individuals in order to hold accountable those who have killed him and have killed other innocent people. Mr. President, owing to all this, thousands of people fled to camps in eastern Chad. They live in dire humanitarian conditions. Children are dying there from famine. The elderly have mostly died as a result of hunger, poverty, and the rest are suffering poverty and amnesia. And although some international organizations are present on the ground, the assistance that is being provided is not enough to meet the basic needs. Thousands of refugees, meanwhile, are risking famine. Despite this humanitarian tragedy, Mr. President, the horrors perpetrated in West Darfur have been ignored by the international community, which deepened the suffering of the victims who are still facing worst circumstances. We are human beings and we were hoping to be treated like other refugees in other countries. Unfortunately, this is the situation, but we ask God that we find justice and that we will enjoy our equal rights on this planet. We hope that international organizations and the international community will give us our rights and will give us enough assistance to meet our daily needs and to face some of the hardships in order to reach, hopefully, a dignified life at some point. Mr. President, I address you today and I address this august Council to highlight a slight part of the suffering of the citizens of West Darfur. They have been facing genocide, ethnic cleansing, looting, and rape. From this rostrum, I would like to highlight this humanitarian devastating catastrophe. I call upon the international community to extend a helping hand to our country suffering the scourge of a devastating war by finding radical solutions that include providing security, providing humanitarian assistance, and achieving justice. Mr. President, it is a great honor to give me the opportunity to convey to you what is happening in my country, the Sudan, and in the state of West Darfur, more specifically. I come here carrying the concerns and aspirations of my people, my people who have been facing or bearing the brunt of war that have been displaced worldwide. I stand before your august Council to call for your support at three levels. My family has been displaced. I lost a lot of my brothers and of my family members. Therefore, I would like to call upon you, Mr. President, to help us meet those basic needs, the needs of the people of the Sudan and of West Darfur. First of all, security. The prevailing insecurity in West Darfur and in the Sudan is the result of a war which led to chaos, to insecurity, which claimed the lives of thousands of people and displaced millions. The main reason behind this protracted war is the large flows of lethal weapons to the rapid support forces coming from some countries of the region and from the world. I can assure you, Mr. President, that the quantity of weapons entering and reaching these parties is unimaginable. So, these inflowing weapons from some countries of the region have been documented. International reports and global newspapers have pointed fingers to specific countries that are providing the weapons that are being used to kill us and displace us. Therefore, I would like to call upon your Council to put pressure on these countries to stop providing weapons to feed the war in the Sudan. and to call upon them to strictly implement Security Council Resolution 1591, which prevents the delivery of weapons to Darfur. Stopping the flow of weapons to Darfur will expedite the end of the war and will pave the way to peace. Second, The humanitarian situation. There is an urgent need to provide humanitarian assistance, including shelter, food, water, medical assistance to all those in need, whether displaced or refugees in neighboring countries. There is a need to accelerate the provision of assistance to those victims, while calling upon the stakeholders and neighboring countries to open corridors and facilitate the delivery of humanitarian assistance. Third, rendering justice. I call upon national and international justice mechanisms to undertake fair, impartial and criminal investigations in the violations perpetrated against the Masalit and other Sudanese citizens to hold the perpetrators accountable and to compensate on the victims. Fourth, I would like to ask you to call upon the warring parties to return to the table of negotiations and to pursue dialogue among the Sudanese to achieve peace and stability. May the peace of God be upon you.


United States of America · Secretary of State; President of the Council [39:13]:

I thank Mr. Baralde for his briefing. I shall now make a statement in my capacity as the Secretary of State of the United States. And let me again thank each of our briefers. for their powerful testimony. It was very important for this Council to hear it. To our fellow Council members, on December 19, 2018, six years ago today, the people of Sudan rose up to topple a dictator and reclaim their own futures. Who can forget the iconic image of Alaa Saleh, Lady Liberty of the Sudanese revolution, standing on the roof of a car as she rallied her nation to a new path. One student protester put it this way. We grinned with freedom on our face. Half a dozen years later, we see on too many Sudanese faces hunger, despair. The military takeover in 2021, the brutal fighting that erupted between the Sudanese armed forces and the Rapid Support Forces in April 2023 have derailed Sudan's transition to democracy and unleashed what is the worst humanitarian crisis in the world. Each day, as you've heard from our briefers, brings new atrocities, attacks on hospitals, on markets, displaced persons camps, summary executions, women and girls subjected to unspeakable sexual violence. We continue to see war crimes and crimes against humanity committed across vast parts of Sudan. In Zamzam, people have resorted to eating grass and peanut shells. By some estimates, a child there dies every two hours for lack of food. And the effects of this tragedy extend well beyond Sudan's borders. Over 3 million Sudanese have fled to neighboring countries. Outside actors are arming and supporting both parties, turning an internal power struggle into a conflict with global dimensions. In short, Failure to act in Sudan threatens the peace and security that this Council is charged with preserving. The world cannot, must not, look away from the humanitarian catastrophe that's happening in Sudan on our watch, before our eyes. The United States has worked intensively with partners to provide relief to the Sudanese people, to end hostilities, to return Sudan to the path of democracy. We've been the largest provider of humanitarian aid to the people of Sudan. Today, we're announcing an additional roughly $200 million more for food, for shelter, for healthcare, bringing total U.S. support to more than $2.3 billion since fighting broke out last year. In August, the United States launched a new initiative, Advancing Life-Saving and Peace in Sudan, co-hosted by Switzerland, Saudi Arabia, in partnership with Egypt, with the UAE, with the African Union, and with the United Nations. ALPS, as it's called, built on earlier work in Jeddah and Paris. And it incorporates Sudanese civil society, including Sudanese women, who are both disproportionately harmed by the violence and essential to ending it. Alongside our partners, the United States successfully pressed Sudanese authorities to reopen major transportation arteries across Sudan, including, as you've heard, the Adre border crossing into Darfur. These efforts have allowed aid to reach more than 3.5 million people across Sudan. We enabled humanitarian air operations to resume for the first time since the conflict began, meaning that a trip that might have taken two days over flooded and bombed out roads can now take just one hour. With U.S. leadership, the U.N. and the Sudanese Ministry of Health vaccinated over 1.4 million people against cholera, achieving 98% coverage in hard hit areas. So this is important progress. It is saving lives. But it is nowhere near enough. So let me suggest today four ways that we can intensify our efforts. First, we have to get more aid, more relief where it's needed most, safely, rapidly, unhindered. In November, aid groups distributed 19,000 metric tons of assistance in Sudan. That was a fourfold increase since August. Yet to even come close to meeting the immense demand, We need to double that 40,000 metric tons every single month. It means the international community has to give more to support those in Sudan, as well as refugees in countries like Egypt and Chad that are so generously hosting them. To deliver that assistance, we must finalize and sustain humanitarian corridors that allow aid to get into contested areas. 31 World Food Program trucks are now rolling toward a part of Khartoum that have been cut off from humanitarian support since April of 2023. We have to build on this momentum and regularize this corridor, as well as the ones into El Fasher, into Jazira, into Al Obeid. Assistance must also be permitted not only to cross the border into Sudan, but to cross territory that is held by the two sides. Both parties have created obstacles, whether it's bombs or bullets or bureaucracy. Lives depend on this. It depends on flowing aid freely across lines of control. We have to ensure that aid can be dispensed more efficiently. Sudanese authorities have allowed the UN to open three new humanitarian hubs and let international aid workers move freely about Sudan. Standing up a fourth hub in central Darfur, Zalingei, is also vital. It's time for the United Nations and humanitarian community to activate these facilities and scale up aid delivery as soon as quickly as possible. Second, this Council must press both warring parties to protect civilians, to stop atrocities, to end the fighting. The ALPS group has proposed a compliance mechanism, a committee with representation from the SAF, from the RSF, from the international community, to ensure that each side upholds international law, and their commitments under the Jeddah Declaration. As I said a year ago, in determining that both the SAF and the RSF had committed war crimes, and that the RSF had committed crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing, specifically designating the atrocities against the Masalit described by the Sultan as ethnic cleansing, the United States will use every tool, including further determinations and sanctions, to prevent abuses and hold perpetrators accountable. We encourage other partners to implement similar sanctions bilaterally, multilaterally, on individuals, on organizations whose actions worsen the conflict. Third, the Council must make clear to the outside actors fanning the flames in Sudan that this conduct cannot continue. Last month, the United Kingdom and Sierra Leone put forward a resolution that called for a nationwide ceasefire, increased civilian protection, and the unhindered flow of aid. 14 members, including the United States, voted in favor of this resolution. One member, Russia, vetoed. They called the resolution, and I quote, "absurd and unacceptable." Here's what's absurd and unacceptable: any country professing to care about African nations while continuing to fuel Africa's largest war. So, to the foreign sponsors sending drones, missiles, mercenaries, enough. To those profiting off the illicit oil and gold trade that fund this conflict, enough. Use your resources to ease Sudanese suffering, not deepen it. Use your influence to end the war, not perpetuate it. Don't just claim to be concerned about Sudan's future. Prove it. Finally, we must all continue to support the Sudanese people as they work to revive this transition to inclusive, civilian-led, democratic governance. In September, the African Union reiterated its call for Sudan to return to a constitutional and civilian-led order. The United States endorses this call. This entire Council should do so as well. To further advance the restoration of civilian governance, to help realize the aspirations of the Sudanese people, I'm announcing today that the State Department will work with Congress to provide $30 million to empower civil society and elevate civilian voices in the dialogue about Sudan's future. Even as the bombs continue to fall, the people of Sudan are not waiting to lead. Across the country, they're banding together to support one another and to rebuild their nation. Volunteers, many of them young people, are preparing food at local soup kitchens in Darfur. They're offering coloring books to traumatized children. They're running health clinics. They're repairing collapsed electrical lines. There's even a word for the selflessness that these citizens are demonstrating daily. A deep rooted Sudanese tradition called Nafir. Nafir is a sense of solidarity, a commitment to mutual aid, a community springing into action in times of need. It translates literally as a call to mobilize. So as a council, We, too, should answer that call. We, too, should mobilize. We have a responsibility, a responsibility to stop the suffering, to end this war, to support the Sudanese people so that, in the words of that protester, freedom is once again on their faces. I ask you, all of us, let's seize this moment. And I thank you. I resume my function as President of the Council, and I now give the floor to His Excellency, Mr. Jose Llagasca, Minister of Government of Ecuador.


Ecuador · Minister of Government [49:45]:

Thank you, Mr. President. I would just start by thanking the United States for organizing this session and the keynote speakers for their interventions on this extremely important topic. The war in Sudan must end. This requires a decisive action of the international community, including by the Security Council. Over 600 days of armed hostilities have left a devastating path of death, displacement, and human suffering. The Sudanese people is confronting unimaginable levels of violence, hunger, and displacement, exacerbated by horrific violations of human rights and international humanitarian law. Particularly alarming are the grave violations against children, killings, mutilations, sexual violence, and forced recruitment. This represents an attack against the very future of Sudan. The Geneva Conventions and the resolutions of this Council are incumbent on the parties, including the principles of distinction, proportionality, and precaution. Likewise, accountability is essential to break the cycle of impunity. Your Excellencies. Ecuador reiterates that there cannot be a military solution to the conflict in Sudan because what must prevail is courage, good faith and political decisiveness to achieve a solution through diplomatic and peaceful means. I'd like to reaffirm the support of Ecuador for the efforts of the African Union, of the Intergovernmental Authority for Development of East Africa, and the personal envoy of the Secretary General for Sudan, Ramtane Lamamra, in promoting an inclusive dialogue among the parties to the conflict. The coordinating role of these institutions is vital to advance towards a sustainable solution. I must also mention that all Member States of the United Nations, we have obligations derived from the sanctions regime pursuant to Resolution 1591 related to Sudan, and the arms embargo must be fulfilled. Any external interference that fuels the conflict and instability is inexcusable. Mr. President. declaration of famine in the Zamzam camp is a sign that the international community can no longer ignore. Over 50% of the population is living in conditions of critical food insecurity, which reflects the magnitude of the humanitarian tragedy. It is impossible to confront this crisis effectively without secure and continued access to border crossings such as Adre and the implementation of secure corridors, in conformity with resolutions 2730 and 2736 of this Council, for the entry of humanitarian assistance. The unity of this Council is crucial to stop the spiral of violence and suffering. by adopting essential measures for the protection of civilians and guaranteeing humanitarian assistance. A national ceasefire and silencing the weapons is the first step for this goal. Mr. President, peace in Sudan is a national responsibility and an ethical and political obligation of the international community. This Council cannot remain on the sidelines while the Sudanese people suffers. It's essential to act with firmness and achieve a solution that reflects our shared responsibility to protect lives and promote peace. In conclusion, I would like to reiterate the solidarity of Ecuador with the people of Sudan and our unwavering readiness to contribute to a future of stability and dignity for Sudan. The civilized conscience of humanity demands it. Mr. President, before concluding, since this is the last time I'm going to address this Council, I would like to say goodbye by expressing my gratitude to all the colleagues for allowing me to be part of the efforts of the international community for the benefit of peace and international security. Thank you very much.


United States of America · President of the Council [54:05]:

I thank His Excellency Mr. Lajowska for his statement and for his participation in the Council. I now give the floor to His Excellency Mr. Thomas Grover, State Secretary of Switzerland.


Switzerland · State Secretary [54:17]:

Thank you, Mr. President. I would also like to express my gratitude to the Director of OCHA, Madame Wasornu, as well as Madame Lewis for their briefings. And I wish to particularly thank the Sultan of the Masalit community for having shared with us his personal testimony. When Switzerland first addressed this Council, on Sudan in March last year, the country was at a critical point in its transition to democracy, a transition on which the Sudanese people's hopes for freedom, peace, and justice rested. However, The outbreak of the conflict a month later shattered these hopes and inflicted immeasurable suffering upon millions of people. An utter disregard for human life, illustrated by countless violations of international law, has since led to the world's largest humanitarian crisis. In view of the latest escalation of hostilities between the SAF and the RSF in several states in recent days, and the relentless bombardment of El-Fasher and Zamzam camp by the RSF, an immediate cessation of hostilities is imperative, as this Council has repeatedly called for, given that this is the last meeting at which Switzerland will speak on this issue as a member of the Security Council, I wish to take this opportunity to reiterate the following points. First of all, international humanitarian and human rights law, as well as commitments such as the Jeddah Declaration, need to be fully respected and implemented by the parties to the conflict, who are obliged to protect civilians under all circumstances. As a member of the Advancing Life-Saving and Peace in Sudan group, the ALPS group, We are working with the parties to facilitate humanitarian access and to strengthen the protection of civilians, a priority of Switzerland at the Council. As we have also emphasized over the past two years, local organizations play an essential role in the protection of civilians and in the humanitarian response. Their protection deserves particular attention. as is underscored in Resolution 2730, which reminds the parties of their obligation to protect humanitarian personnel. This brings me to my second point, which is no less urgent. We must continue to improve the humanitarian situation. This week, our Deputy Director of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, accompanied by our Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa, were on a mission to Sudan. The Swiss delegation traveled to Kassala to assess firsthand the vast humanitarian needs and the manifold challenges facing the humanitarian response. During our mandate, we have consistently called for rapid, safe, unhindered, and sustained humanitarian access across all borders and front lines. and called for the removal of all obstacles and obstructions. The world's worst food crisis, leading the first declaration of famine in years, has been a priority for us, particularly as the informal co-focal point for resolution 24/17. The rapid establishment of United Nations humanitarian hubs across the country and continued funding are also essential. We are determined to maintain our humanitarian support. Since the beginning of the conflict, Switzerland has committed more than $100 million to Sudan and the countries affected by this conflict. And third, we must ensure accountability, which has largely been absent over the past 20 years. Without accountability, peace will remain out of reach. We will continue to call for action beyond our mandate in the Council, given, among other issues, the appalling reports of sexual and gender-based violence against women and girls. mainly committed by the RSF, as well as ethnic violence and repeated warnings of the risk of genocide. In the same vein, we reiterate our appeal to the parties and Member States to ensure the full implementation of the resolutions of this Council, in particular by refraining from any external interference and by respecting the arms embargo, the flagrant violations of which continue to fuel the conflict. Finally, we must step up our diplomatic efforts to facilitate a Sudanese-led political process. In this regard, Switzerland welcomes and supports the significant commitment and engagement of the African Union and Sudan's neighbors. Switzerland remains committed to promoting the active and meaningful participation of women in all discussions on the future of their country. We also reiterate our robust support for the Secretary-General's Special Personal Envoy, Ramtane Lamamra, in complementing and coordinating diplomatic efforts and in working together with the parties to enhance the protection of civilians. We remain at his disposal to provide any support, as we have done in the past, as a host state. for the proximity talks in Geneva. Mr. President, in the midst of this man-made disaster, hope remains, as has been attested to by the personal testimony of Hana al-Tiyan in this Chamber during our presidency in October. This hope must guide our efforts within this Council. It is our responsibility to act without delay and to speak with one voice in the face of this human tragedy. As Switzerland's term on the Council draws to a close, we reaffirm our solidarity and our steadfast commitment to freedom, peace, and justice for all Sudanese. Thank you.


United States of America · President of the Council [1:01:46]:

I thank His Excellency Mr. Gerber for his statement. I now give the floor to the representative of the United Kingdom.


United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland [1:01:54]:

Thank you, President. I'm grateful to Secretary Blinken for convening this meeting today and for all the United States efforts to bring to an end the suffering in Sudan, including through the Alps Group, the Jeddah Process, and your significant funding for humanitarian assistance. I thank Ms. Wozniak for her briefing and Ms. Lewis and Mr. Baelding for their powerful testimony. President, 2024 has been a year of unimaginable suffering for the people of Sudan. Disease, displacement, violence. In August, the Famine Review Committee confirmed famine in Sudan. Upcoming food security assessments are expected to be even worse. 2025 must be different. On this, I will make three points. First, amid continued conflict, this Council has rightly focused on improving humanitarian access. We now need to see delivery and actually reaching the millions of people in need across Sudan. We welcome the agreement by the Sudanese Armed Forces to extend the permissions on the Adre crossing and for the establishment of humanitarian supply hubs. But as Secretary Blinken said, this is not enough, not nearly enough, to meet the scale of need. Humanitarian access must be expanded to all civilians in need, whether they live in SAF or RSF-held areas. So we therefore call on the Sudanese authorities to authorize further humanitarian hubs particularly in Zalingei, Darfur. We also call on all sides to ensure additional cross-line routes, safety guarantees for aid workers, and the lifting of all bureaucratic impediments that too often obstruct the provision of aid. Second, this humanitarian crisis requires a concerted and robust international approach, including by the UN. We welcome the updates on the Emergency Relief Coordinator's visit to Sudan and urge that this bold leadership continue. We must collectively strive for a system-wide response that delivers better outcomes for the Sudanese people. Donors must support these efforts by finding new ways to diversify our funding, supporting both the UN and local Sudanese responders at the front line of the response. Third, President, we condemn the RSF attacks on Zamzam IDP camp and drone strikes in El Fasher, which kill civilians and ground hospital operations to a halt. Last month, the UK and Sierra Leone tabled a resolution to address both parties' disregard their Jeddah Declaration commitments to protect civilians. Despite Russia's veto, 14 votes in favour sent a clear signal of the international community's focus on the need for the warring parties to comply with Jeddah and with other international human rights and humanitarian commitments. We urge the warring parties yet again to engage meaningfully with existing diplomatic diplomatic initiatives towards a lasting national ceasefire and political solution, including the efforts of the Secretary-General's personal envoy, Mr. Ramtane Lamamara. President, 2024 will be remembered as the year the warring parties created the world's worst displacement crisis and the man-made famine they could have prevented. It is within their power to end this suffering and ensure peace, in 2025. The world will be watching. Thank you.


United States of America · President of the Council [1:06:12]:

I thank the representative of the United Kingdom for their statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Algeria.


Algeria · A3+ [1:06:22]:

Thank you, President. I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the A3+ members. namely Guyana, Mozambique, Sierra Leone, and my own country, Algeria. We wish to thank the U.S. presidency for scheduling this important meeting to discuss the deeply concerning situation in Sudan. We want to convey our thanks to Mrs. Adem Wozarnow, for giving us deep insight into the humanitarian situation on the ground, and also for her dedication to the population in need in Africa and all over the world. We listened carefully to the remarks made by Mrs. Shaina Lewis and Mr. Saad Bahraddeen, Sultan of the Massalit. Finally, we welcome the participation of the permanent representatives of Sudan, Turkey, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates to this meeting. Mr. President, situation in Sudan has been an active dossier in our agenda since the start of the conflict, particularly during the year 2024. During this year, our Council deployed important effort to contribute to the de-escalation of tensions and bring the parties to a ceasefire agreement, but in vain. Despite these sustained efforts, we are still witnessing a continued deterioration of the situation on the ground. The latest reports on fighting in Al-Fashir, in Khartoum, in Al-Jazirah, and in the Sanaa are appalling. Hundreds of innocent civilians have been killed, and critical health infrastructures have been destroyed. Additionally, the recent reports of large-scale killings Abductions, rapes, and attacks against civilians in South Kordofan by the Rapid Forces leave us speechless. Women and girls are, unfortunately, among the main targets. They are frequently subjected to unspeakable violation and suffering. In this regard, we wish to commend the resilience of Sudanese women, and we call for all perpetrators of human rights violations to be held accountable. Mr. President, the A3+ insists on the need to continue engaging constructively on the Sudanese file, and wishes to underline the following: First, an immediate ceasefire is imperative. We reiterate our calls for the Sudanese parties to implement an immediate ceasefire without precondition. Without precondition. We cannot afford to lose more innocent civilians. We cannot afford more displacement. more sexual violence, more food insecurity, destruction and instability in the region. It is past time that all conflict parties engage in a meaningful, transparent and Sudanese political process under the umbrella of the United Nations, while keeping the protection of civilians, the protection of civilians as their main and common objective. Second, engaging in diplomatic effort in good faith. A ceasefire depends primarily on the willingness of the Sudanese parties, but also on the support of regional and international partners. Our Council has to provide further support to good faith diplomatic efforts while insisting on the coordination of this effort and the preservation of the central role of the UN and the African Union. In this regard, we welcome the organization of the third consultative meeting in Mauritania to coordinate regional and international diplomatic effort on the Sudan crisis. Also, we look forward to the announcement of the next round of proximity talks between the Sudanese parties, which will be convened by the Secretary General Personal Envoy, Ramtan Lamamra, beginning next year. In this regard, we encourage the Sudanese parties to constructively engage in these mediation efforts. Third, the need to continue facilitating humanitarian access. The latest developments on the ground are deeply concerning for all of us, due to their impact on the delivery of humanitarian assistance to the population in need, especially women and children, particularly those forcibly displaced or trapped in areas of heavy fighting, or in besieged cities such as El Fasher. Despite the gloomy picture on the ground, we welcome the announcement by the Government of Sudan to open airports in Al-Obeid, Kadugli, and a demarcation for humanitarian flights, and the establishment of humanitarian supply hubs at these locations. We also welcome the WFP announcement on 22nd of November of aid finally reaching North Darfur, in particularly food aid delivered to the Zamzam IDP camp. These positive steps came in addition to the recent measures related to the reopening of the Al Adri border crossing and the authorization of humanitarian air operation in South Kordofan. We call on the Sudanese Government to sustain these positive steps and further facilitate humanitarian assistance for the benefit of all those who are affected by this tragic situation. Fourth, And last, putting an end, finally putting an end to foreign interferences. We wish to refer to the strong statement made by USG DiCarlo at this same Chamber on the role of external actors. And I quote, "To put it bluntly, certain purported allies of the parties are enabling the slaughter in Sudan. This is unconscionable. It is illegal and it must end." End of quote. We therefore reiterate our call for the strong and public condemnation of foreign interference in Sudan and the full respect of the established sanctions regime and the arms embargo by all Member States. Mr. President, we conclude by underlining the need for our Council to engage positively and constructively on the situation in Sudan, to support in good faith the peace effort in this important country to avoid the spillover of this conflict in the region and in the continent. I thank you.


United States of America · President of the Council [1:18:58]:

I thank the representative of Algeria for their statement. I now give the floor to the representative of China.


China [1:19:06]:

President, I thank OCHA Director Ms. Wosono and the civil society representatives for their briefings. I also welcome the presence of the representatives of the Sudan, Egypt, Turkey, and UAE. The conflict in Sudan has entered its 20th month as fighting continues unabated, resulting in mounting civilian casualties, a record level of displacement, and an increasingly dire humanitarian situation. The spillover of the conflict risks undermining regional stability. The international community should respond to the earnest yearning of the Sudanese people for peace and work collectively to create conditions for proper settlement of the situation. I would like to make three points. First, we must work together to promote a ceasefire and end the fighting. Recently, there have been frequent reports of violent attacks against civilians in locations such as Al-Jazirah and Al-Fashir, showing a worrying trend of escalation and spreading. The Security Council has adopted two resolutions on the situation in Sudan, calling on all parties to the conflict to end hostilities and implement the commitments made in the Jeddah Declaration. The same resolutions also demand an end to the siege of Al-Fashir. The priority now is to ensure that the aforementioned resolutions are effectively implemented in order to achieve de-escalation without delay and ensure the protection of civilians to the greatest extent possible. China calls on all parties to the conflict in Sudan to put the fundamental interests of the country and the people first, find a political solution through dialogue and consultation, and restore peace as soon as possible. All parties should effectively respect the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of the Sudan and play a constructive role in resolving the conflict. Second, we must join hands to intensify mediation efforts. At present, multiple international and regional mechanisms are engaged in mediation in various formats. China welcomes the convening of the third consultative meeting on enhancing coordination of peace initiatives for the Sudan in Mauritania. We have learned that SG's personal envoy, Lamamra, will visit Sudan soon. We support his continued good offices and hope that the UN will enhance coordination with regional bodies such as the AU, IGAD, and the League of Arab States, and create synergy in the exploration of innovative and effective ways to resolve the conflict. China stands ready to work with the international community and contribute its part to ending the conflict in Sudan at an early date. Third, we must contribute collectively to alleviating the humanitarian plight. China applauds the enormous efforts of the WFP and other UN agencies for providing humanitarian assistance. We welcome the recent announcement by the Sudanese government to extend permissions on the Artery Crossing, the opening of additional airports as hubs for the transportation, storage, and distribution of humanitarian supplies, as well as the concrete measures taken to facilitate humanitarian access. We support the continued cooperation between the UN and the Sudanese government to ensure that aid supplies are expeditiously delivered to the people in need. We call on the international community to scale up assistance, honor pledges in a timely manner, and help Sudan improve its humanitarian response capabilities. In addition, it is important to note that as the conflict in Sudan drags on, a large number of refugees are fleeing the country, putting ever-increasing humanitarian pressure on neighboring states. The international community should expand targeted support for host countries and address the refugee shock through concerted efforts. It must be emphasized that any international humanitarian operations must fully respect the legitimate concerns of the Sudanese government regarding its sovereignty, security, and other aspects, and must be in full compliance with the principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence. Humanitarian questions should not be used as a pretext to exert undue pressure, let alone seek political self-interest. President, since the eruption of the conflict, China has provided Sudan with multiple batches of humanitarian assistance, including food and medical supplies. A new shipment of food aid will arrive soon. China has also recently partnered with the FAO to implement an agricultural assistance agricultural assistance program in Sudan's Red Sea State, providing seeds and other agricultural inputs to small and medium-sized farmers as a way to address food insecurity. We remain committed to working with the international community and making even more efforts to help Sudan ease the humanitarian situation and restore peace and stability. Thank you, President.


United States of America · President of the Council [1:24:06]:

I thank the representative of China for their statement. I now give the floor to the representative of the Republic of Korea.


Republic of Korea [1:24:12]:

Thank you, Mr. President, for convening this crucial meeting. We thank the Director of OSO, Mr. Luis, Sultan Saad Bar Eldin for their insightful and sobering briefings. We also welcome the presence of the representatives of Sudan, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates. It is deeply disturbing that repeated calls by this Council and the international community for an immediate nationwide ceasefire in Sudan continue to fall on deaf ears. Instead, the conflict has intensified, fueled by external support, as the parties to the conflict pursue military dominance. Particularly alarming are the harrowing reports of heavy artillery bombardment of the Zamzam IDP camp, where famine was tragically confirmed in August of this year. In addressing this man-made catastrophe, I'd like to underscore three points. First, the parties to the conflict in Sudan must heed the urgent call of the Security Council and international community for an immediate and nationwide ceasefire. Although the adoption of a new resolution reiterating this call was vetoed in November, the Council's call for an immediate ceasefire remains valid and binding. We strongly urge all parties to the conflict to comply with the Security Council resolutions and engage in negotiations to uphold their commitments under the Jeddah Declaration. We commend the efforts of the Secretary-General's Personal Envoy, Mr. Ramamurthy, and look forward to tangible progress in the proximate talks. The contributions of the African Union and the Arab Group in engaging the conflicting parties are equally appreciated. We encourage the efforts to coordinate various peace initiatives for Sudan, and in this regard, welcome the third consultative meeting on enhanced coordination held in Mauritania. Second, unhindered humanitarian assistance remains essential to meet the overwhelming needs of the world's largest displacement and hunger crisis in Sudan. We welcome the decision by the Sudanese authorities to permit all UN agencies to establish supply hubs and to address constraints to the aid delivery. However, we are deeply concerned by the continued deliberate obstruction of humanitarian operations and the imposition of unnecessary administrative restrictions. We call on all parties to immediately cease all forms of attacks on humanitarian workers, including local responders, and to lift bureaucratic impediments. In addition, funding for Sudan's immense humanitarian needs must continue. The escalating crisis in Sudan is increasing fund needs in the region as the influx of displaced Sudanese continues. For our part, the Republic of Korea has provided $12 million in humanitarian assistance to Sudan and South Sudan, as pledged at the International Humanitarian Conference in Paris. Third, Security Council should support enhanced monitoring, reporting mechanisms, and accountability measures to address violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law. Credible reports, including from the Panel of Experts, have documented grave violations, including ethnically targeted attacks and widespread sexual gender-based violence throughout Sudan. In this regard, we welcome the activities of the International Criminal Court and an independent international fact-finding mission, particularly in the absence of a UN presence in Sudan, and urge full cooperation with their critical work. In conclusion, Mr. President, we sincerely hope for an immediate end to this devastating conflict that has lasted for more than 20 months. We believe that only the establishment of an inclusive, civilian-led, democratic government will meet the aspirations of the Sudanese people. We stand ready to contribute constructively to the Council's efforts and the broader international community's initiatives to achieve this goal. I thank you, Mr. President.


United States of America · President of the Council [1:29:08]:

I thank the representative of the Republic of Korea for their statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Malta.


Malta [1:29:14]:

Thank you, President. I begin by thanking you for convening this high-level briefing on Sudan. I also thank Ms. Fossum and the briefers for their valuable insights. For 20 months, hostilities between the SAF and the RSF have unleashed devastating consequences, with civilians bearing the brunt. Instead of the warring parties moving towards de-escalation, we are witnessing an escalation of fighting. We are alarmed by the recent attacks on markets and civilian infrastructure in North Darfur and Khartoum, which claimed the lives of dozens of civilians. We condemn the recent attacks by the RSF on Al-Fashir, including on the Zamzam IDP camp, and the last remaining hospital in the city. Civilians and civilian infrastructure should never be a target. We reiterate the call made through resolution 2736 for the RSF to hold the siege of Al-Fashir and for all parties to the conflict to comply with their obligations under international law. We cannot stress enough the imperative for the parties to commit to a nationwide cessation of hostilities and to ensure the sustained passage of humanitarian aid through cross-line and cross-border routes without any impediments. We also remind all parties to the conflict and States to comply with their obligations under the 1591 sanctions regime and its related arms embargo, and to refrain from extending interference. President, last month, this Council had an opportunity to address civilian protection needs with due urgency through a resolution tabled by the United Kingdom and Sierra Leone. Regrettably, the draft was vetoed, blocking a process that would have sought to develop a compliance mechanism to facilitate the implementation of the Jeddah commitments. We look forward to a future response by this Council in operationalizing the Secretary-General's recommendation on PoC. We also encourage Personal Envoy Lamamra to maintain engagement with the warring parties and all other relevant actors, in coordination with the African Union and other key stakeholders. The meeting organized in Mauritania this week is a welcome step in coordinating efforts towards conflict resolution. The full, equal, meaningful, and safe participation of women in all levels and stages of decision-making is indispensable. We pay tribute to the Sudanese women who have been advancing the cause of peace, especially at the grassroots level. We also welcome the contributions of youth-led organizations who have displayed courage in advocating for their future aspirations. The European Union remains a trusted partner in supporting civilian engagement. We call for all diplomatic efforts to maintain momentum to create conditions for an inclusive peace process. President, a catastrophic humanitarian situation keeps unfolding as Sudan faces the largest displacement crisis in the world. Famine is now present in multiple areas across the country. We condemn in the strongest terms the epidemic of sexual violence that is affecting mainly women and girls. These acts of violence must stop and perpetrators must be held accountable. Survivors must also be supported as they seek protection, services and access to justice. The children of Sudan remain at risk of becoming a lost generation. Millions of children have been unable to gain access to schools owing to violence and insecurity, as well as acute food insecurity. The staggering increase in violations and abuses against children is of grave concern and requires our continued attention. Finally, Chair, As chair of the Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict, Malta was pleased to lead agreement on conclusions on Sudan. They will help ensure that the situation of children in the country remains on the international community's radar. Thank you.


United States of America · President of the Council [1:33:57]:

I thank the representative of Malta for their statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Japan.


Japan [1:34:03]:

Thank you, Mr. President. I also thank Director Worsnop. Ms. Ruiz and Mr. Baharzdeen for their sobering briefings. Since the draft resolution on protection of civilians in Sudan was vetoed by Russia in November, Japan has stressed the Security Council must fulfill its duty by taking concrete steps forward. I therefore express my gratitude to the presidency for convening today's high-level briefing, which will serve as an opportunity for us to consider what steps can be taken. Mr. President, human security and dignity are at stake in Sudan. The Rapid Support Forces, RSF's deliberate attacks against civilians, including Zamzam camp, continue to be reported. Security Council Resolution 2736 demanding the RSF halt the siege of El Fasher, has not been implemented yet. It is also reported that the Sudanese Armed Forces, SAF, are responsible for many civilian casualties by bombardment in populated areas. The number of people forcibly displaced has exceeded 12 million. This is currently the largest displacement crisis in the world. More and more people are at risk of sexual and gender-based violence without proper care for the victims and survivors. Acute food insecurity has been reported. Agricultural activities and the market system have been hindered by the conflict. With these in mind, I'd like to make three points. First, the only way to end this human rights and humanitarian crisis is immediate cessation of fighting. A coordinated political effort by the United Nations, regional organizations, and influential member states is vital for the parties to the conflict to return to serious negotiations. External interference fomenting the conflict and instability must stop now. Japan remains concerned about the continuous reported flow of arms and ammunition, as well as financial and logistical support to the warring parties from outside the country. Second, the international community should scale up its efforts to reach people in need, wherever they are. We therefore call on the parties to allow and facilitate full, rapid, safe, unhindered, and sustained humanitarian access, including cross-line and cross-border activities, and especially by granting visas timely to humanitarian personnels. In this regard, Japan welcomes the opening of additional entry points by the government of Sudan. We also need to discuss how the international community can promote local humanitarian actors, address the telecommunication blackout, provide security for humanitarian personnel by respecting Security Council Resolution 2730, and secure the full, equal, meaningful, and safe participation of women. In November, Japan made an additional contribution through UNOPS to develop water supply infrastructure and hospital facilities in Kassala and Red Sea states by providing approximately 5 million US dollars. Third, in order to achieve ceasefire and scale up humanitarian assistance, it is necessary to advance our collective efforts to protect civilians in Sudan. In November, Ambassador Shimizu, Japan's special envoy to the Horn of Africa, visited Port Sudan. He met Lieutenant General Al-Buhairn of the Transitional Sovereign Council, among others, and discussed a compliance mechanism to ensure implementation of Jeddah Declaration of Commitment to protect the civilians of Sudan, which the Security Council recently considered. Japan calls on the Security Council members to further deliberate on such a mechanism so that it be robust, innovative, and actionable. Japan continues its dialogue with the Sudanese authorities to help convey this Council's unified message and achieve peace and stability. In conclusion, Japan will remain committed to the aspirations of the Sudanese people for peace as a longstanding partner of Africa. I thank you.


United States of America · President of the Council [1:39:04]:

I thank the representative of Japan for their statement. I now give the floor to the representative of France.


France [1:39:13]:

Mr. President, I want to thank Madam Edem Musor-Nu, for her statement, as well as Madame Shaina Lewis and Mr. Saad Baradhin. I want to focus on three points. First of all, the situation in Sudan is a tragedy. France condemns the attacks from the Rapid Support Forces against civilians in North Darfur, in Jazirah, and in Omdurman. Reports of ethnic violence and massive sexual violence committed by the RSF are alarming. France condemns the strikes by the Sudanese armed forces against civilian targets, particularly on the 9th of December that caused over 100 deaths against a market in Kabayan, Darfur. It's urgent for the parties to resume dialogue and conclude a ceasefire as soon as possible. The embargo on weapons in Darfur was renewed unanimously in September, and we call on foreign actors to refrain from any military, logistic, or financial support to the parties. Secondly, the parties to the conflict must uphold their obligations pursuant to international law, in particular international humanitarian law. France calls on all parties to the conflict to allow for secure, rapid and unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid throughout Sudan, across borders and across front lines. France recalls on this point the declaration of principles adopted at the Paris conference on the 15th of April of this year. Humanitarian workers must be protected in conformity with resolution 2730. France hails the decision of the Sudanese authorities to approve the continuation of humanitarian operations from Chad towards Sudan across the Adre crossing. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of France went there on the 20th of November and announced an additional aid of 7 million euros to support people. Thirdly, it's urgent to do more to protect civilians. We call on the rapid support forces and the Sudanese armed forces to uphold their commitments contained in the Jeddah Declaration. To do this, France supports the establishment of a monitoring and verification mechanism in liaison with international and regional actors to ensure the implementation of the Jeddah Declaration. France deplores the veto by the Russian Federation to the draft resolution proposed by the United Kingdom and Sierra Leone on 18 November of this year, in spite of the position of the 14 other members of the Council and in particular the African members. we remained determined to act to implement the recommendations of the Secretary General in his from his report of the 18th of October in conformity of the resolution 2736 Mr President while the parties are determined to seek an impossible military Victory it is the very Unity of the country that is in danger if the fighting continues only an inclusive process involving all parties and all of civil society can make it possible to find a lasting solution of the conflict while respecting the of the Sudanese people for their sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity of the country. France reiterates its wholehearted support to the efforts of the personal envoy of the Secretary-General, Raman Lama, and will stand ready to contribute to the conditions necessary for a negotiated solution to the conflict. Thank you.


United States of America · President of the Council [1:42:47]:

I thank the representative of France for their statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Slovenia.


Slovenia [1:42:53]:

Thank you, Mr. President. I'd like to extend my gratitude to Director Rosolino for her briefing. And thank you also to Ms. Lewis and Mr. Aladeen for their remarks. Mr. President, since hostilities erupted in April last year, the situation has spiraled downward in an alarming speed. Sudan stands on the brink of humanitarian abyss. The ongoing armed conflict is plunging it deeper into chaos. undermining any prospect of stability and leaving the future of the country uncertain. Today, we have once again heard reports that underscore the urgency of the Security Council's decisive action. The rapidly deteriorating security situation and mass displacements, coupled with a humanitarian disaster of unfathomable proportions, confirm the inescapable truth: there can be no military solution. No true victor can emerge from such carnage, and pursuing a solution through force will lead nowhere. It will only perpetuate instability, entrenching a cycle of violence and destruction that defies any progress. Only a political and inclusive negotiated solution can bring lasting peace. Dialogue, not destruction, must prevail. We call once again on all parties to engage in inclusive and honest talks I urge all stakeholders within and outside of Sudan to demonstrate genuine leadership and resolve. External interference and the unchecked flow of arms fuel and further escalate the conflict, destabilize the region, and obstruct ongoing peace efforts. All external actors must support, not hinder, the pursuit of peace. Mr. President, we have stated repeatedly that the protection of civilians must remain a priority. International humanitarian law must be adhered to. Yet relentless and intentional attacks on civilians, including humanitarian and healthcare workers, and on critical civilian infrastructure continue, highlighting the horrific consequences of unchecked violence. Regrettably, starvation also remains a method of warfare in the country. Let me be clear. These are all serious violations of international humanitarian law demanding accountability. Even in war, there are rules. Civilians must never be targets. We condemn widespread hostilities engulfing North Darfur, South Darfur, Greater Khartoum, and beyond including shelling and airstrikes on civilian areas, including IDP sites. Women and children bear the heaviest brunt. Widespread human rights violations and abuses, sexual and gender-based violence, including conflict-related sexual violence, reaffirm the dire need for accountability. Mr. President, the Security Council has a responsibility and a moral imperative to do more. utilizing every diplomatic tool available. Doing nothing cannot be an option. We, the Council members, must breach our divisions and take bold and decisive action. History shows that even in the worst of conflicts, when we stand on the side of protecting civilians and respecting international law, human rights, and human dignity, we can sway the tide of conflict. Our message to the warring parties must be clear and unanimous. cease hostilities, commit to negotiations, and prioritize the protection of civilians. Slovenia stands ready to work closely with all members of this Council and other partners to support a peaceful, just, and enduring future for Sudan. In conclusion, Mr. President, peace does not belong to those who are able to win it, nor is it a privilege for the fortunate few. No one should have to earn peace, and no one should be denied the opportunity to live in it. I thank you.


United States of America · President of the Council [1:47:09]:

I thank the representative of Slovenia for their statement. I now give the floor to the representative of the Russian Federation.


Russian Federation [1:47:16]:

Mr. President, we are grateful to the Director. of Operations of OCHA, Madame Vasonu, for her briefing. And we thank Mr. Saad Bakr Eldin, Sultan of the Massalit, for the information that he has provided us with. We welcome the participation in today's meeting of the Permanent Representative of Sudan, Egypt, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates. We listened to the prosecutorial lecture from the specialist on Sudan, Madame Shana Lewis. Mr. President, unfortunately, the armed conflict in Sudan has become protracted and prolonged, and at the same

time, the situation on the ground has been evolving to a certain extent.

However, not a single of the parties has a strategic advantage.

We have witnessed sporadic successes of the army in Khartoum and El-Gazira.

Against this backdrop, the Rapid Support Forces are attempting to focus on the greater Darfur,

and this is resulting in a new wave of tensions, the country's economic and social problems are deepening. International efforts to launch an intra-Sudanese peace process are deadlocked. The main objective at the present juncture remains a ceasefire in Sudan. Otherwise, any steps to protect civilians, to deliver full humanitarian access, to save women and children from violence will prove to be ineffective.

And only the parties to the conflict themselves are in a position to reach agreement about this.

Imposition of parameters for such solutions or compelling them to engage in negotiations through ultimatums is

both unacceptable and not professional. In this context, we support the efforts of the personal envoy of the UN Secretary General on Sudan, Mr. Lamamra, in seeking to help the parties find common ground. In order to achieve results, he needs to have

necessary time and the necessary space to work without external pressure.

The situation in Sudan is adversely being affected by the external intervention in its domestic affairs, which needs to be

put to an end.

External support for the conflict and efforts by certain states to implement in the country dubious schemes of political engineering merely worsens the plight of ordinary Sudanese. The nefariousness of this practice has already been cast in stark relief with the infamous unitamps, which is now a relic of the past. any initiative to establish peace in the country without the full-fledged participation of Port Sudan is not viable. On 18 November 2024, the Russian Federation cast a veto vis-a-vis the British Sierra Leone is draft resolution of the Council on Sudan, a draft resolution which ran counter to international law and undermined the role of the legitimate government in protecting the interests and borders of its country. We stress that we will continue to decisively suppress any attempts to encroach upon the sovereignty of this brotherly country. We will continue to prevent the adoption of one-sided, non-viable solutions which are geared towards keeping afloat political forces that have lost the among the Sudanese people and which are geared towards implementation of plans that are at variance with realities on the ground. We categorically reject what Western media outlets and countries are spreading. I refer to insinuations about us allegedly playing into both playing with both sides of the conflict in an attempt to profit from the developments in Sudan. We consistently support a prompt launch of intra-Sudanese dialogue and the inclusion of political forces which who enjoy the the support of broad swathes of the population who are seeking to introduce a unifying agenda in the country. We believe that the Sudanese people can and should independently resolve all internal problems, and to that end, there's a need for this to be inclusive, as was rightly noted in the statement from Mr. Ben El Dean, and there's a need to incorporate all influential political forces and the country's main ethnopolitical groups. We call upon other members of the Council and of leveling unsubstantiated criticism against Russia to support this balanced policy, to cast aside their parochial, short-sighted designs, which merely worsen the situation in the country, I cannot remember U.S., British, or French colleagues recently voicing any serious proposals for resolution. Nothing other than criticism or false alliance, false equivalencies between the government and forces who have decided to break away from the army and to use force to cement their claims to power. We have not heard anything other than that. You are consistently trying to pin labels on the leadership of Sudan, denigrating them as authorities instead of the government. And in this way, you are continuing to be biased in Sudanese affairs, fueling centrifugal trends. And we reject these approaches because, for us, the sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity of this brotherly country is not mere noise and is certainly not a bargaining chip. We view the Supreme Sovereignty Council as the highest legitimate governing body in Sudan, which is capable of ensuring the resilience of state institutions and continuity of governance. Our U.S. colleagues, apparently having grasped the fact that there is no alternative to this policy, ultimately they did decide in November to finally dispatch a special envoy, Tom Perriello, to Port Sudan to engage in contact with the chairman of the Sovereignty Council. However, as far as we are aware, the U.S. special envoy distinguished himself merely with lectures and biased assessments about the humanitarian situation in Sudan. Unfortunately, instead of dialogue with Sudan, they have elected to adopt a practice of the consistent and systematic stepping up of pressure on the humanitarian, human rights, and other issues. And this is precisely what is prolonging the conflict. Let us recall that Sudan has already tested firsthand the whole range of tools at the disposal of the Security Council, including a peacekeeping operation and a special political mission. The Sudanese are keenly aware of what this is, how it works, and how "effective" this could be. And there is a Security Council sanctions regime which has been imposed by the country, and this is compounded by illegitimate unilateral restrictions. The result is nothing. Calm and stability have only been observed in Sudan at those rare times when the country has been left unbothered and the government has been allowed to independently determine how to shape their domestic and political and foreign policy. Russia will continue to block any machinations by our Western colleagues with restrictions against Sudan, and we will continue to move towards normalization of the situation in the country and the lifting of the sanctions regime that has been imposed on Darfur. The Security Council's restrictive regime should not obstruct the efforts undertaken by the country's government to enhance national security and to suppress violence. It is with regret that we note that the humanitarian situation in Sudan remains dire. Nearly three-quarters of medical institutions are not operating. Medicines are in short supply. Two-thirds of the population lack access to medical treatment. dangerous diseases are spreading. An important challenge remains, the fact that the humanitarian response plan has only been covered by 60 percent. UN humanitarian structures and their partners would be well advised to focus on enhancing the effectiveness of distribution of assistance to those in need. This is precisely the objective that needs to be prioritized, not lamentations at the Security Council and other fora about the Sudanese government failing to duly cooperate. Let us recall that Port Sudan opened a number of land border crossings, airports, as well as maritime shipping routes. And this also includes the well-known Adre border crossing, the use of which is extended by the government even despite its major concerns about risks to its national security. Humanitarians should also prioritize measures to enhance the people's purchasing power, including through the issuance of special vouchers. Judging by what we have heard from colleagues from the Council and beyond, there are significant funds and resources being allocated for Sudan. So against this backdrop, it is surprising that in the country, the growing number of refugees and displaced persons, and there in a neighboring state, that the situation is only deteriorating. And we should like to hope that the The additional funds that are earmarked are planned to be allocated for Sudan will be used to meet the needs of the people in need, rather than to support the democratizing reform agendas in the country on the basis of Western templates. Democracy and prosperity cannot be bought or sold like goods in a shop. Mr. President, we wish to call upon certain members of the Council to be sensible and to acknowledge that there is no way forward other than engaging in cooperation with the central government. The alternative to this is tacit incitement of violence and the ongoing suffering of the population. We believe that the leadership of Sudan is perfectly cognizant of the fact that stabilization in the country is directly linked to a peaceful transition. We know that, to that end, they have relevant initiatives prepared which are designed to implement these objectives. We have heard a number of calls from the members of the Security Council to support certain regional mediation efforts, including the Jeddah platform, assistance through the African Union, IGAD, the contribution of certain regional players and external players. And we believe that the leadership that guided by that same logic, the Council should not frown upon, but rather support the sincere efforts towards normalization undertaken by Port Sudan.

Thank you.


United States of America · President of the Council [1:58:20]:

I thank the representative of the Russian Federation for their statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Sudan.


Sudan [1:58:30]:

In the name of God, the merciful, the compassionate, Mr. President, would like to thank you for and thank the presidency of the Council and Mr. Blinken on holding this high-level meeting on the developments in Sudan. I would also like to thank Ms. Idem Wasano, Director of Operations at ACHA, for her comprehensive briefing, and Ms. Shaina Lewis for her briefing and her documentation of the violations of the rapid support forces, as well as the testimony of Mr. Saad Bahareldin, the Sultan of the Massalit whose testimony was clear cut on the violations of the Rapid Support Forces. Mr. President, we'd like to express our gratitude to the U.S. efforts for relief and attempting at reaching a solution to end the war and its positive engagement with the Sudan. The total amount allocated by the U.S. to humanitarian relief has exceeded $2 million, and the Department of State has continued to regularly condemn the atrocities and crimes of the RS militia, asking it to lift the siege of the city of El Fasher. Congress witnessed efforts to criminalize the rapid support in stopping the export of weapons to the UAE. We also appreciate the engagement of the USAID and the U.S. envoy to the government of the Sudan and their visits there, too. We thank you for all of the above. Mr. President, the Sudan will continue its engagement with international community and the Security Council to look for the best ways to stop the war. The government of Sudan renews its commitment to protect civilians. The terrorist attacks, massacres, and crimes committed by the militia, backed by foreign mercenaries, that Sultan, the Sultan of the Massalit, has testified to their atrocities. Necessitate the support to the government of Sudan to counter this aggression. It's important to ensure the implementation of the resolution 15191 on Darfur and resolution 2736 on national ownership of peacemaking while ending the siege of El Fasher and other cities. After ending the war, an inclusive political process will be launched, but there is no role for the militia in the future of the Sudan. It is vital to ensure that there will be no impunity to the violators and those who have shed blood. We must strengthen the national justice process, for democracy is part and parcel of the culture of Sudan. And you will see what the people of Sudan can do to uphold democracy and to strengthen its national unity. We hope that the international community would promote it. The government of the Sudan will ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid and calls for increasing such assistance. We explained this in all meetings of the Security Council, which amounted to more than 50 meetings. Mr. President, during the visit of Tom Fletcher and his delegation in the presence of the UN humanitarian coordinator to Sudan with the Humanitarian Aid Commission, we touched upon a joint program of action. Mr. Fletcher expressed his readiness to cooperate with the government of Sudan to overcome the challenges of humanitarian aid. The government reiterated its commitment to facilitate humanitarian work procedures by granting visas, issuing internal movement permits, entry visas, and the delivery of humanitarian aid, as well as establishing shelters and expanding humanitarian action. Of the 4,000 visa applications submitted, 3,980 have been approved and only 20 remain under consideration. The government also made effort to open crossings for humanitarian purposes, reaching 12 border, air, sea, and land crossings that we've touched upon before. They all aim at delivering humanitarian aid to those affected. The government also opened the Adri crossing for a period of three months, which were renewed for another three months, despite security safeguards, as this border crossing could be used for purposes detrimental to national security. We've also made effort to provide and deliver humanitarian aid to those in need. A total of 14,978 internal movement permits were issued for humanitarian organizations. 28,700 requests for the movement of relief trucks between states, localities, and through the Tain and Adri crossings were received and fully fulfilled. The funding for the 2023-2024 humanitarian response plans falls short of the ambition to alleviate human suffering. Thus, the Government hopes that the 2025 plan will be adequately funded to alleviate the humanitarian crisis. A few pressing issues were also addressed, including the protection of civilians, humanitarian access, and humanitarian funding. Mr. President. Mr. Fletcher expressed his satisfaction following his visit to the Sudan, seeing firsthand the situation on the ground and hearing the voices of those affected, displaced and refugees, especially since it was his very first visit to the Sudan and his very first visit since assuming his new post. He stressed the need to work and cooperate with the Government of Sudan to contribute in increasing funding for the 2025 Humanitarian Response Plan. He thanked the Government of Sudan for facilitating his visit to the country and facilitating the procedures of humanitarian effort for partners. He also said he looked forward for more cooperation and coordination. There were also additional recent evidence on the provision of military and logistical support to the militia via neighboring countries through land and air. Mr. President, everybody touched upon the external interference that we all know full well. Additional recent evidence proves that there are military and logistical support provided to the militia by neighboring countries. through five secret helipads in the city of Nyala in South Darfur, in addition to other temporary landing strips, thus taking advantage of the state of war that it sponsored, financed, and deliberately exacerbated and prolonged. Experts who prepared the Reuters report recently confirmed that there has been a transfer of tens of tons of aid to Sudanese refugees in eastern Chad. However, that was refuted by evidence of regular flights to, uh, Umdar's airport. A video was obtained revealing that the certain country, had metal boxes and containers inspected by three weapons experts. They found them stacked on low platforms, likely due to the weapons or ammunition therein. These steady shipments have affected the trajectory and balance of the war by protracting it and expanding its scope. This has also exacerbated the scale of the crimes and atrocities committed by the Rapid Support Militia, which has excelled in the killing of civilians by missiles and drones. The experts stated that the conflict wouldn't have continued without the support of the militias. The report issued this month revealed that 170 flights took off from the Emirates to Umm Jaras airport. Information and documents reviewed by Reuters proved that 75% of those flights belonged to air operators carrying Emirati arms shipments to a warlord in southern Libya. It has been a leeway for mercenaries to North Darfur. Experts specialized in conflicts confirm that logistical support necessarily leads to winning wars, and the Emirates used this aerial network to facilitate RSF's regular access to weapons. This has changed the balance of power in the Sudanese conflict by prolonging the war and multiplying civilian casualties. According to the report, a Chadian member of the security forces working in Omdurman assured to them the arrival of planes carrying boxes that look like those used by Chadian units to transport weapons. He noted that his unit was responsible for guarding these boxes until they reach the Sudanese border, where they are handed over to the RSF fighters. There is a scanned document issued by a company affiliated with the Ministry of Defense in Abu Dhabi on 350 containers of military equipment and trucks that cross through the port of an African country and end up in Chad. 72 of them reached the port of that African country, and we have evidence on the above. They are all heading to the Sudanese borders. The account of the Humanitarian Research Laboratory at Yale University published on X platform a report on artillery shelling operations launched by the Rapid Support Militia since last May, targeting the city of El Fasher, as well as the civilians, medical facilities, and infrastructure. Satellite images have shown heavy AH-4 155-millimeter cannons erected by the militia east of El Fasher. The Sudanese armed forces does not have such a weapon. The UAE army uses such a cannon since 2019. This cannon was used by the militia during the past week to hit a passenger bus in the city of Omdurman on the 10th of December, killing 65 civilians. Turning to the Colombian mercenaries, 160 of them participated with the rapid support forces in an attempt to change the balance of power. The Wall Street Journal documented that the company that employed them was based in Abu Dhabi and that it was working on behalf of the UAE government, carrying out armed security recruitment. Those mercenaries came to support the malicious qualitative operations, such as snipers, drone supervision, and cybersecurity operations. so-called Christian Lombana Moncapa traveled from Boguna to Dubai on the 6th of October 2024, according to his passport details. It should be noted that the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Colombia called the Sudanese foreign minister to offer an official apology that the Colombian mercenaries were deceived. We have already mentioned the fact that thousands of them entered through Central Africa into Forbenga and Habiba and through the Adri crossing.

Mr. President, we have demands. First, we call for ending the flow of weapons to the militia, these weapons provided by the UAE and its regional partners. This is the only reason for the continuation of the conflict. Therefore, we need to put an end to this blatant interference, which violates the UN Charter and violates the sovereignty and national laws of our country and run counter to maintaining international peace and security. Second, there's a need to designate the rapid the Rapid Support Militia as a terrorist organization because it is assaulting the civilians on ethnic grounds. It is looting their property and food, besieging their cities and villages. Three, the Rapid Support Militia should retreat to special assembly areas under the auspices of the United Nations. They should vacate the houses they occupy to facilitate the return of the citizens to the triangular capital of Khartoum. for Sudan is cooperating with the Secretary-General through the diplomatic efforts deployed by the Special Envoy and is cooperating with the African Union and IGAD to reactivate the plan for the protection of civilians as per Resolution 2736. And Sudan will be submitting to the Council a national plan for the protection of civilians. We call upon the Security Council to support this national plan for the protection of civilians. In conclusion, we call for… adopting all the measures that will build our capacities to preserve the safety and security of the civilians. And this should be made with full respect to the national ownership. We also call for the establishment of a national plan to monitor violations. And there's a need to adopt technologies to monitor violations of international humanitarian laws. There's a need to support our national courts to enforce the law and prosecute the crimes. We also ask for training the Sudanese police on the protection of civilians, especially in the regions that are targeted by the violations of the rapid support. These are regions that are under an open, systematic aggression aiming destabilizing them. This intensifies the crisis and expands its scope to turn it into a civil war, according to the plans of the Rapid Support Militia and their sponsors. We also call for supporting the processes of reconciliation and civil peace-building under the auspices of local and tribal authorities. Thank you, Mr. President.


United States of America · President of the Council [2:12:28]:

Further statement? I now give the floor to the representative of Turkey.


Türkiye [2:12:33]:

Thank you, Mr. President. I also thank briefers Director Bosorno, Ms. Lewis, and Mr. Bahrudin for their valuable briefings. The armed conflict in Sudan, in its second year, has become a humanitarian catastrophe. Recent figures point out to a dire situation where over 11 million people are displaced, Hundreds of thousands have lost their lives. Due to the conflict, vital infrastructure, including many health facilities, have been destroyed. Turkey is extremely concerned by the humanitarian crisis and the continuation of the conflict. Building on the long and deep-rooted relations with Sudan and its people, Turkey gives utmost importance to Sudan's unity, territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence from outside interference. We support all sincere efforts by the international community in alleviating the suffering of Sudanese people and scaling up humanitarian aid. In this vein, Turkey continues to provide humanitarian assistance to the Sudanese people. Three Turkish aid ships have recently arrived at Port Sudan, delivering approximately 8,000 tons of humanitarian aid. Moreover, the Turkish hospital in Nyala, the capital city of South Darfur, continues to operate despite difficult terrain conditions. Our continued presence in Port Sudan at ambassadorial level is a clear testament to our determination to stand with the government and people of Sudan. Mr. President, Security, stability, and prosperity of Africa have become even more fragile with the overarching effects of current crisis. Finding long-lasting solutions is only possible if the internal and external root causes are properly addressed. Therefore, in order to help the Sudanese people, we must focus on the cause of the disease, not the symptoms alone. The fighting in Sudan has to stop immediately. In the midst of increasing global crisis and challenges, we should not let Sudan slip away from the attention of the international community and act together to convince the parties to a negotiated solution. Unfortunately, the prospects for ending the conflict gets dimmer each passing day unless a new understanding is adopted to communicate with the government in Port Sudan. We support the elements in Jeddah Declaration as essentials in the way to end this conflict. Therefore, we stand with the Sudanese government's principal approach on defining Jeddah Declaration as the main point of reference for the way ahead. Mr. President, Turkey has mobilized its resources to support African countries' desire for lasting peace, genuine democracy, sustainable development, and welfare. As a strategic partner of the African Union, we have built a holistic, inclusive, and equal partnership on the basis of mutual respect. Deepening relations in all levels has resulted in a mutual trust, which paved the way for mediation efforts to address the disagreements among African countries. Building on this experience, we are ready to contribute further to stability and security in East Africa by initiating or taking part in all political processes along with our humanitarian activities in Sudan. President Erdogan conveyed Turkey's determination and readiness in this regard to the head of the Sudan's Sovereignty Council, President Burhan, during his recent phone call. I would like to reiterate Turkey's call on both sides to exert utmost restraint to prevent further bloodshed and harm to civilians. We therefore urge the international community to expand efforts not only to address the humanitarian crisis in Sudan, but also the political challenges facing the country. Mr. President, the people of Sudan deserve to be saved from the grasp of violence and death by putting aside concerns and interests that led to despair. Turkey reaffirms its strong support to the people of Sudan and calls on the international community the need to increase humanitarian aid efforts, as well as mediation efforts on the political front. Thank you.


United States of America · President of the Council [2:17:32]:

I thank the representative of Turkey for their statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Egypt.


Egypt [2:17:41]:

Thank you, Mr. President, for holding this important meeting, and I wish to thank the speakers for their detailed briefings. Mr. President, today we have met 20 months after the outbreak of this crisis in Sudan, a crisis that has revealed the degree to which the organization, the United Nations, has been capable of halting external intervention in domestic affairs of the country and incapable of halting the war, and the degree to which the organization is unable to promote a sovereignty of states and the concept of nation states and to protect their national institutions. Mr. President, we are committed to the Sudanese people, the brotherly Sudanese people, to the establishment of peace and stability in this fraternal country. We have ties of blood, neighborly relations, and we have common history and common values. We need to establish conducive conditions in Sudan to achieve stability as well as security. This hinges on a political process led by the Sudanese parties. To that And my country, last July, hosted a conference for all political civilian Sudanese forces. This was an opportunity for them to set out their views, to describe their future, and to set out their aspirations. My country participated in various initiatives. to achieve a ceasefire, and we supported all sincere efforts to end the bloodletting of the Sudanese people and to halt the flow of refugees and asylum seekers to neighboring states, countries that have been significantly afflicted by this crisis. The ALPS Alliance is one of the initiatives which my country supports. So to achieve the goal above mentioned, we have spared no effort to support our brothers and sisters in Sudan to help them extricate themselves from this impasse. To that end, our foreign minister, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Immigration, visited Port Sudan last month. He was hosted by the President Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the President of the Sovereign Transition Council, and he met with the various Sudanese political stakeholders. During this visit, he considered concerted efforts to restore confidence between the Sudanese Government and the United Nations, and he also considered the question of humanitarian repercussions of this crisis, which lasted for far too long. Egypt hosts more than 1.2 million Sudanese who have fled the conflict. We are providing assistance, support, treatment to our Sudanese brothers and sisters, refugees, asylum seekers. The ties between our country and Sudan is a historical link. I wish to take this opportunity to set out the following points. First, security and stability in Sudan hinges on the well-known parameters. We must not lose sight of these parameters. First and foremost, the comprehensive ceasefire. That is the only way to guarantee protection of civilians. Second, sovereignty and unity of Sudan is of paramount importance. To that end, all necessary measures need to be undertaken to halt the flow of weapons and to support the role of state institutions without creating false equivalencies between those state institutions and non-state bodies such as armed militias. Third, initiatives at the regional and international levels need to be coordinated to avoid a scattering of efforts. To that end, we support the efforts of the UN Secretary-General and his personal envoy, Mr. Lamarmora, and the good offices undertaken vis-a-vis all stakeholders in Sudan to achieve an immediate ceasefire there. Egypt has committed to these seven goals at all levels. Fourth, there's a need to redouble efforts to prevent this crisis in Sudan, a regional crisis whose consequences limited to African countries. We need to prevent this crisis metastasizing into a global crisis that threatens international peace and security, threatening navigation in the Red Sea, for example, and growing flows of illicit migration into Europe. We need to prevent Sudan from transforming into a hub of activity for terrorist groups and.

Armed militias.

Fifth, donors, international donors have an obligation to renew commitment to improve the humanitarian situation in Sudan and to bridge the financial gap. Neighboring states are the most severely affected states. They need support to continue to deliver assistance to the refugees. and the Sudanese brethren. And we applaud the United States, who have allocated $230 million additional dollars to support humanitarian efforts in Sudan. Sixth, there is a need to rebuild trust between the Sudanese government and the United Nations. This is a prerequisite to ensure the success of our efforts. I also wish to take this opportunity to applaud the efforts of the Sudanese Government having opened the Adre border crossing to facilitate delivery of humanitarian assistance, as well as other crossing points, and the establishment of the humanitarian center in Damazin, in Li, and in Dankala, as well as the delivery of humanitarian assistance. Seventh, We call upon the United Nations and international community to use these crossing points, which were opened by the Sudanese government, to deliver humanitarian assistance, and we call upon them to smooth out the difficulties being encountered. Everything possible needs to be done to prevent these crossing points from being used to deliver weapons to benefit militias and armed groups. Mr. President, time is of the essence. We need to end the suffering endured by the Sudanese people. This requires meaningful action to help them surmount this crisis using all possible means. Therefore, efforts need to be redoubled by the international community to restore peace and stability in Sudan. Egypt cautions against attempts by certain parties to impose certain scenarios on Sudan. We will continue to to support national consensus, which is supported by international and regional efforts. Thank you very much for your attention.


United States of America · President of the Council [2:24:45]:

I thank the representative of Egypt for their statement. I now give the floor to the representative of the United Arab Emirates.


United Arab Emirates [2:24:53]:

Mr. President, I would like to begin by thanking Secretary Blinken and the United States for convening this critical discussion on Sudan's humanitarian crisis. and welcome your continued leadership in addressing this devastating situation. After more than 18 months of conflict, we are witnessing a man-made disaster that grows more severe by the day. There are four key areas that require urgent attention. First, the most effective way to protect civilians is to implement an immediate and permanent ceasefire. The UAE calls on the warring parties to cease hostilities and put the Sudanese people ahead of their military objectives. They must uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law, as well as their commitments under the Jeddah Declaration. Perpetrators of such violations must be held accountable. Second, humanitarian access needs to be systematic rather than piecemeal, and the weaponization of hunger must end. Recent developments have shown that when there is political will, humanitarian access is possible. The extension of the Adre border crossing authorization is a positive development, and we welcome the entry of aid to the Zamzam camp. The message to the warring parties should be clear: ensure rapid, safe, and unhindered humanitarian access to all areas under their control and the protection of humanitarian workers. The blocking of aid and attacks on those who provide it has to stop. This leads me to my third point. The Council must utilize all its tools to pressure the warring parties to address the dire humanitarian situation on the ground and compel them to come to the negotiating table. Serious consideration must be given to enabling cross-border and cross-line humanitarian aid. Finally, we must not turn a blind eye to the gendered impact of this war, with women and girls representing more than half of those displaced and subjected to widespread sexual violence, it is critical that we integrate and promote the perspectives of women and girls in our response. This is why the UAE is leading an initiative to amplify Sudanese women's perspectives within the ALPS group. Mr. President, contrary to unfounded claims made in the chamber today, the UAE reaffirms that it is not providing support to any of the warring parties. It is deeply regrettable that the Sudanese representative would once again exploit an important Council meeting to try to evade responsibility for the humanitarian catastrophe on the ground by making unfounded allegations against the UAE. The UAE categorically rejects the baseless allegations we have heard here today. We will continue to uphold our obligations under all Security Council resolutions and engage constructively with all relevant stakeholders, including the Panel of Experts on Sudan. Mr. President, all the claims we have heard from the Sudanese representative are designed to distract from the SAF's unwillingness to participate in peace talks that lead to civilian-led governance in Sudan. They can point the finger in any direction they like. But it does not change the fundamental truth that their goal is to take power in Sudan through the barrel of a gun, regardless of the cost to the people of Sudan. Mr. President, the UAE has historical bonds with the Sudanese people, and we will continue to stand by them. Only the warring parties can put an end to this violence, allow unhindered humanitarian access, and commit to a genuine political process leading to a civilian-led government. The cost of inaction is simply too high, and it is Sudanese civilians who pay the price. Thank you, Mr. President.


United States of America · President of the Council [2:28:57]:

I thank the representative of the United Arab Emirates for their statement. There are no more names inscribed on the list of speakers. The meeting is adjourned.