The United States is deeply concerned about violent, lethal attacks on civilians in Sudan by the Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese Armed Forces, said U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield:
“In Darfur, and more recently in al-Gezira, reports indicate an alarming rise in widespread, targeted, ethnically motivated killings and mass atrocities by the [Rapid Support Forces]. In the Khartoum area in particular, [Sudanese Armed Forces] aerial bombings on markets and public places, launched without any clear military objective, have killed large numbers of civilians.”
In light of the gravity of the situation in Sudan, the United States has four primary calls to action.
“First, is the responsibility of all parties to this conflict to facilitate the flow of aid across all cross-border and crossline routes,” stressed Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield.
“We commend the Sudanese authorities for opening the Adre border crossing in mid-August. This single route allowed aid organizations to bring enough food, health, and nutrition supplies to serve more than 1.9 million people. Now, Sudanese authorities must keep Adre border crossing open indefinitely. Millions of lives depend on it.”
The second step is to bring an end to hostilities, said Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield:
“All countries should cease providing military support to the belligerents. And every one of us must continue to press the parties to return to the negotiating table with the aim of ending this conflict.”
The U.S. also “supports the establishment of a compliance, monitoring, and verification mechanism following a broader cessation of hostilities agreement,” said Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield:
“Such a mechanism could ensure that international humanitarian law obligations and Jeddah commitments are respected and implemented on the ground. And so, this Council, and the international community writ large, should empower African partners to lead on the establishment of such a mechanism, including by supporting scenario planning on design and deployment.”
Finally, it is incumbent on the international community to support a transition to inclusive and democratic civilian governance. That includes seeking accountability for atrocities and other abuses committed over the past year and a half.
“We as the Security Council need to continue to pressure the belligerents to end the violence now,” declared Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield, and “to ensure life-saving aid reaches those in need; and to put Sudan on the path to democracy and security.”
