New york: Members of the United Nations Security Council have condemned the Rapid Support Forces’ (RSF) attack on the city of El Fasher in North Darfur, Sudan, and its devastating impact on civilians, expressing deep concern over the escalating violence in the city.
According to Qatar News Agency, in a press statement following their meeting Thursday, the Security Council members called on the RSF to lift the siege on El Fasher, in accordance with Resolution 2736, which calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities and de-escalation of tensions in and around the city.
Council members also condemned the atrocities committed by the RSF against the civilian population, including summary executions and arbitrary detentions, urging accountability for all perpetrators of violations.
During the session, members urged all parties to refrain from external interference aimed at fueling the conflict and instability, and to support efforts toward lasting peace and the implementation of relevant Security Council resolutions.
Russia’s Ambassador to the UN, Nebenzia Vassily, expressed concern over reports of widespread human rights violations, stressing that violence against civilians is unacceptable. He said the atrocities committed against the civilian population in El Fasher, and the images circulating online, are shocking, pointing to similar atrocities that previously occurred in Geneina and Al Jazira, Sudan.
US Ambassador to the United Nations Dorothy Shea stated that the RSF and its allies have committed genocide. She highlighted the systematic killing of men and boys, even infants, and their deliberate targeting of women and children as ethnically motivated, emphasizing the need for sanctions and accountability.
China’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, Geng Shuang, reaffirmed the priority of achieving a ceasefire in Sudan, recalling Resolution 2736. He called on all sides to immediately halt hostilities and ensure the protection of civilians, condemning RSF’s atrocities.
France’s Ambassador to the UN, Jerome Bonnafont, condemned the RSF’s intensified attacks on El Fasher, likening them to past mass atrocities in Darfur. He stressed the need for accountability and urged external actors to cease military support to warring parties.
UK Charge d’affaires at the UN, James Kariuki, expressed concern over the escalating violence in El Fasher, urging the RSF to protect civilians and calling for unhindered access for humanitarian organizations.
Algeria’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Amar Bendjama, addressed the Security Council on behalf of the African members and Guyana, highlighting the RSF’s takeover of El Fasher as a dangerous step toward Sudan’s fragmentation and called for international response.
UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Tom Fletcher, described the dire situation in El Fasher, with reports of mass executions and a protection and hunger crisis affecting Sudanese children, urging decisive action.
UN Assistant Secretary-General for Africa, Martha Pobee, warned of the high risk of mass atrocities and ethnically targeted violence, emphasizing the need for an immediate cessation of hostilities and sustained dialogue, while noting the lack of decisive Security Council action.