UN chief appeals to Sudanese leaders to end violence

Addis Ababa, April 18, 2023 (FBC) – The United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has strongly condemned the outbreak of violence in Sudan and called on the leaders of the warring sides to immediately cease hostilities and engage in dialogue.

Guterres made the comments on Monday, the third day of fighting between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group.

In his opening remarks at the Forum on Financing for Development on Monday in New York, Guterres said he had spoken with the two rival leaders and urged them to restore calm – even as both al-Burhan and Dagalo have expressed no desire to hold talks.

“The situation has already led to horrendous loss of life, including many civilians,” the UN secretary general said. “Any further escalation could be devastating for the country and the region.”

“I urge all those with influence over the situation to use it in the cause of peace, to support efforts to end the violence, restore order and return to the path of transition,” Guterres said.

“The humanitarian situation in Sudan was already precarious and is now catastrophic,” Guterres said, as he reaffirmed the UN’s “full support” for the efforts of people in the country “to restore the democratic transition and build a peaceful, secure future”.

It is stated that the UN Security Council was due to hold a closed-doors meeting to discuss the situation in Sudan later this week.