In this archived photo, Sudanese refugees are seen congregating outside a field hospital in Acre, Chad, dated August 15, 2023. According to the World Food Program, a significant portion of these refugees fled the conflict in Sudan and sought refuge in Chad over the past six months, marking a notable increase not witnessed in the past two decades. (Image source: AP Photo, File)
In a move aimed at easing the escalating conflict in Sudan just ahead of the holy month of Ramadan, Britain has put forward a preliminary resolution to the United Nations. This resolution calls for an immediate halt to hostilities in the strife-torn nation. The draft underscores deep concerns regarding the escalating violence and the deteriorating humanitarian crisis, particularly the acute food shortages in Darfur. With Ramadan fast approaching, scheduled to commence soon, the UN Council is poised to swiftly vote on this resolution, potentially as early as Friday.
The turmoil in Sudan erupted last April when longstanding tensions between the military, led by General Abdel Fattah Burhan, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces under Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, erupted into violent clashes in the capital, Khartoum. Subsequently, conflict spread across various parts of the nation, particularly in urban centres. However, in the western region of Darfur, the conflict took on a distinctively brutal character, marked by vicious assaults by the Arab-dominated Rapid Support Forces against ethnic African civilians, resulting in numerous casualties.
Two decades ago, Darfur gained infamy for genocide and war crimes, primarily perpetrated by the notorious Janjaweed Arab militias against Central or East African populations. The International Criminal Court's prosecutor, Karim Khan, recently indicated possible war crimes, crimes against humanity, or genocide being committed by both sides in the ongoing Darfur conflict.
Adding to the urgency, France's UN ambassador, Nicolas de Riviere, emphasized the necessity for a ceasefire in Sudan during Ramadan, drawing a parallel with the ongoing conflict in Gaza. However, the proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza was vetoed by the United States on February 20. In Sudan, the proposed resolution coincides with warnings from the head of the UN's food agency, Cindy McCain, who cautioned that the conflict could precipitate the world's largest hunger crisis. According to UN agencies, millions in Sudan are grappling with acute hunger, with many trapped behind conflict lines.
The draft resolution calls for unimpeded humanitarian access across Sudan's borders and conflict zones. It also advocates for enhanced coordination among regional and international efforts to bring about an end to the conflict and to facilitate a sustainable transition to civilian-led democracy. A report by UN experts on March 1 underscored widespread atrocities committed by the Rapid Support Forces and their allies in Darfur, which may constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity.
