UN Chief Expresses “Grave Concern” Over Escalating Violence in Sudan
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed “grave concern” on Thursday over reports of mass atrocities and widespread human rights violations in El-Fasher, Sudan, warning that violence is also intensifying in the Kordofan region.
In a post on the social media platform X, Guterres called for an immediate cessation of hostilities as fighting escalates between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). “The flow of weapons and fighters from external parties must be cut off,” he said, emphasizing that humanitarian aid must be allowed to “quickly reach civilians in need.” He urged both sides to take “swift, tangible steps” toward a negotiated settlement to prevent further deterioration of the situation.
The conflict has deepened since 26 October, when the RSF seized control of El-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur State, committing massacres according to local and international organizations. Clashes between the RSF and the Sudanese army have since spread to central and southern Kordofan states.
Currently, the RSF controls all five states in the Darfur region, with the Sudanese army retaining limited northern areas of North Darfur and most of the remaining 13 states, including the capital Khartoum. The ongoing conflict, which began in April 2023, has killed thousands and displaced millions, creating one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises.
