A commission comprising the African Union, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the Arab League, the European Union and the United Nations voiced grave concern over the escalating conflict in Sudan and called for an immediate halt to any further military escalation in the country.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the commission expressed deep concern over the worsening situation of civilians in the Kordofan region and Blue Nile state, citing reports of deadly drone strikes, tightened sieges of urban centres, attacks on vital civilian infrastructure, forced displacement and severe restrictions on humanitarian access.
It said the reports underscored the need for immediate measures to prevent further atrocities, recalling the horrors that occurred in El-Fasher and warnings issued prior to those events that “were not heeded, leading to serious consequences for civilians.”
The commission stressed that civilians must no longer bear the brunt of ongoing hostilities and highlighted the need for coordinated and effective collective efforts “to reduce the intensity of the conflict and create conditions conducive to the protection of civilians, the halt of arms and fighters flows, as well as other forms of support that fuel violence and contribute to the fragmentation of Sudan.”
Since April 2023, Sudan has been engulfed in an armed conflict between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces, which has killed thousands and displaced millions.
