G7 Condemns RSF’s Ethnically Motivated Attacks in Sudan, Urges Immediate Ceasefire

The foreign ministers of the G7 countries on Wednesday strongly condemned what they described as “ethnically motivated” attacks by Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on civilians and aid workers in El-Fasher and North Kordofan.

In a joint statement issued after a two-day meeting in Niagara, Canada, the ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States — together with the European Union’s High Representative — expressed deep concern over the “devastating impact of this war on civilians, including the famine that has led to the world’s largest humanitarian crisis.” They called for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, urging both the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) to respect human rights and allow unhindered humanitarian access.

The ministers reaffirmed their backing for diplomatic efforts to restore peace in Sudan and appealed to all external actors to contribute to those initiatives. Their statement came as the UN warned of a worsening humanitarian situation, with access to affected areas severely restricted. Since the conflict erupted in April 2023, the war has killed at least 40,000 people and displaced around 12 million, according to the World Health Organization. The RSF now controls all five Darfur states, including El-Fasher, while the army holds most of the remaining 13 states, including the capital, Khartoum.