The Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR) of Sudan sent a delegation to the Swiss city, as reported by Rosemary DiCarlo to the UN Security Council. Lamamra, the UN special envoy for Sudan, plans to visit Sudan and other countries in the region in the coming weeks to hold meetings with key actors and push for a new attempt at dialogue.
Ramesh Rajasingham, director of coordination of the UN humanitarian office, alerted the Council about the "shocking atrocities" in Gezira and the fighting in West Darfur and North Darfur that have led to an increase in displaced persons. Since April 2023, more than 11 million people have left their homes, with three million fleeing to neighboring countries.
DiCarlo accused countries that finance and supply arms to the Sudanese army and the FAR of facilitating the massacre that has claimed the lives of more than 24,000 people. Although she did not directly mention the countries involved, she urged pressure on both parties to seek a negotiated solution to end the war.
Sudan plunged into conflict in April 2023, spreading from Khartoum to regions like West Darfur, which had already been ravaged by atrocities in 2003. DiCarlo highlighted the importance of ramping up international measures to protect civilians and promote dialogue, urging all parties to negotiate.
The UN warned of an impending famine in Sudan, with 58,000 Darfur residents migrating to Chad last month. In Gezira, the FAR carried out devastating attacks according to reports from the UN and local groups. The UN political chief condemned the ongoing attacks on civilians by the paramilitary forces and the FAR, highlighting an increase in violence in recent months.
There is an urgent need to bring the conflicting parties to the negotiating table; however, both factions seem to believe in a military victory, fueling the escalation of the conflict with external support and arms supply. With the rainy season coming to an end, military operations, recruitment of fighters, and attacks are expected to intensify.
Recent reports suggest that the paramilitaries have received backing from the Russian mercenary group Wagner, adding a layer of complexity to the conflict in Sudan.
