UN Security Council: A3+ Condemns RSF ‘Atrocities’ in El Fasher, Sudan

The A3+ Group in the UN Security Council — Algeria, Somalia, Sierra Leone, and Guyana — today condemned, “in the strongest possible terms, the violations and atrocities committed by the Rapid Support Forces in El Fasher”, emphasizing the need for dialogue to achieve peace in Sudan.

During a Council meeting on the situation in Sudan, convened at the request of Algeria and other states, the A3+ Group, through a statement read by Algeria’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ammar Benjamaa, highlighted that “the Rapid Support Forces have seized control of El Fasher after more than 18 months of an inhumane siege marked by starvation, suffering, and despair.” The group noted that this is “a blatant defiance of Security Council Resolution 2736, which demanded last year the lifting of the siege on El Fasher by the RSF”, and it represents “a dangerous step toward the fragmentation of Sudan.”

The statement condemned “the violations and atrocities committed by the RSF, including ethnically motivated attacks,” adding that these atrocities “are not sudden; they are the result of months of passive international observation while the tragedy unfolded in slow motion.”

The group referred to reports of “the killing of more than 460 patients and their companions in a Saudi-backed maternity hospital,” stressing that “a place meant to give life has turned into a massacre site.” It underscored that “the Security Council has a responsibility to protect civilians in Sudan and must deepen its efforts to this end,” calling for “full accountability and the use of all existing mechanisms to bring those committing these crimes to justice.”

A3+ further emphasized that “these crimes would not have happened without foreign support to the RSF, including the supply of arms and mercenaries,” reiterating “our call for the strong, public, and comprehensive condemnation of foreign interference in Sudan.”

The group welcomed the communiqué adopted yesterday by the African Union Peace and Security Council, calling on AU bodies to identify external actors supporting parties to the conflict, describing it as “a critical step toward accountability.”

Highlighting the path forward, the statement said that “there is no military solution to the conflict in Sudan. Only dialogue and negotiation, with the support of the African Union and the United Nations, can bring peace.” It called for “the immediate cessation of hostilities in and around El Fasher to pave the way for a negotiated settlement.” The group condemned the creation of “a parallel governing authority in areas under RSF control, which threatens to further fragment the country,” and stressed the need to urgently “revitalize the Jeddah process and other regional mechanisms, particularly AU frameworks.”

Finally, the statement urged prioritizing protection measures for civilians and humanitarian workers, including “safe and unimpeded passage for those fleeing El Fasher, and ensuring humanitarian aid reaches those in desperate need,” while rapidly scaling up funding for life-saving assistance.

In conclusion, A3+ reaffirmed its commitment to “the sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity of Sudan,” calling for “restraint, reason, and peace” in the face of ongoing suffering and bloodshed.