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The United Nations and African Union member states should begin planning to deploy a mission to protect civilians in Sudan, where millions are displaced and facing famine after a year and a half of brutal armed conflict. be.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres protects Sudanese civilians and calls for a halt to the Rapid Support Force (RSF) and its rival the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) in a new report to the UN Security Council It outlines the measures that member states should take to achieve this goal. committing atrocities. Security Council members are scheduled to discuss the report on October 28.
The recent escalation of fighting in Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, and El Gezira state again puts civilians at great risk of casualties from deliberate attacks and explosive weapons used by both sides. Civilians continue to be subjected to torture and summary executions. Women and girls face widespread sexual violence.
Mr. Guterres has called for increased support for local response forces and international investigations, and to cut off the flow of arms to parties to the conflict. Human Rights Watch recently found that both parties have acquired new weapons and military equipment that can be used to carry out further atrocities, manufactured by companies registered in China, Iran, Russia, Serbia, and the UAE. did. Secretary-General Guterres also said calls for protection missions from Sudanese civilians and local and international human rights organizations “demonstrate the seriousness and urgency of the situation facing civilians.” .
Unfortunately, Guterres’ report goes on to say that the conditions for a successful deployment of UN forces do not exist. But waiting until ceasefire negotiations bear fruit or ideal conditions to deploy a mission is not an option. Civilians need protection now.
Like Human Rights Watch, the United Nations Independent International Fact-Finding Mission in Sudan has called for a mission to be sent to protect civilians. Malawi’s former president Joyce Banda wrote that developing such a mission would not be easy, but “the scale of the Sudanese crisis, the intransigence of the warring parties, and the pressure from Sudanese civilians and civil society… Clear and consistent demands will cause us to take action.” Such a presence could strengthen other protective measures recommended by Mr. Guterres.
The Security Council should also immediately expand the existing UN arms embargo on Darfur to cover the whole country and make clear that those responsible for atrocities will be sanctioned and held accountable.
International disregard for the suffering of Sudanese civilians must end. The time for action is now.
