Geneva Discussion on Peace in Sudan Must Succeed
Kampala /Geneva 16 July 2024
This statement is in support of international efforts for peace in Sudan. In this respect, we recall UN Security Council Resolution 2724 (2024), which expressed concerns over the growing violence in Sudan and Resolution 2736 (2024) which called on the Sudanese
Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) to agree on immediate cessation of hostilities, leading to sustainable resolution to the armed conflict through dialogue.
The humanitarian and security situation in Sudan is so acute and urgent that it requires immediate action from the waring parties to heed calls of the Security Council. The Sudan Situation Report released by the Office of Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) on27 June 2024 reveals that 25.6 million people, or half of Sudan’s population, face high levels of acute hunger and that at least 755,000 face catastrophic conditions or imminent famine. Meanwhile, fighting continues unabated, and the two parties depend heavily on bombing and shelling by heavy artillery as well as aerial bombardment with shrapnel bombs targeting densely populated areas. The most recent bombardment was reported on Sunday, 14 July 2024 when SAF military jets attacked Nyala in South Darfur State and destroyed the building of the maternity hospital as well as the main gas reservoir in the city.
We commend the good offices of Mr. Ramtane Lamamra, Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for Sudan to engage with SAF and RSF. We particularly welcome his efforts in convening indirect negotiations between SAF and RSF in Geneva since 10 July 2024. The intended discussions, which are convened in “proximity format” are meant to focus on measures to be undertaken to ensure the distribution of humanitarian assistance to all the Sudanese population in need ae well as options to ensure protection of civilians across Sudan, which must be accorded the same sense of urgency by all the parties.
We welcome the presence of SAF and RSF delegates in Geneva and encourage them to engage in honest discussion. However, we are dismayed to learn that SAF delegation is yet to take part in this process and fully cooperates with the mediators. It is abhorrent that SAF delegation places conditions or raises procedural matters, thus making the point that technicalities are more important than the lives of millions of their citizens in dire need of humanitarian intervention. Based on the above we recommend the following action points:
1. The parties to the armed conflict in Sudan should commit themselves to a long-term ceasefire and allow unhindered and sustained humanitarian access that expands emergency response and enables relief agencies timely delivery of material, including by authorising cross border relief operations from Chad, South Sudan etc.
2. The warning parties should put immediate halt to all military operations notably the use of heavy artillery and aerial bombardment and that they fully engage in a transparent discussion on matters of protection of civilians and the implementation of measures to give effect for such protection and facilitate humanitarian access.
3. SAF should take immediate measures to release and deliver piles of relief material
which are currently kept by the army in storehouses in Sudan’s seaports.
4. The authorities must end forced evictions of displaced persons from schools and
public facilities used as gathering sites and provide alternative shelter.
