From the United Nations platform in Geneva, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia reaffirmed its firm and unwavering position calling for the preservation of Sudan's unity, sovereignty, security, and stability. This came during the participation of the Kingdom's Permanent Mission in an interactive dialogue on the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Sudan, where the Kingdom strongly condemned the grave and ongoing violations committed by the Rapid Support Forces, particularly their recent attacks on El Fasher and surrounding areas.
Context of the crisis and its historical background
This Saudi stance comes amid the ongoing devastating conflict in Sudan, which erupted in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces. This conflict, which began as a power struggle between the army chief, Lieutenant General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the commander of the Rapid Support Forces, Lieutenant General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, quickly escalated into a full-blown war that has plunged the country into the world's largest humanitarian crisis. The war has resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands and the displacement of more than 8 million people, both within Sudan and as refugees in neighboring countries, creating immense pressure on the entire region.
The importance of El Fasher city and the repercussions of the attack on it
In his statement, Ambassador Abdulmohsen bin Khathila, Permanent Representative to the UN, condemned the criminal attacks perpetrated by the Rapid Support Forces against health facilities, aid convoys, and civilian infrastructure, which resulted in the killing and wounding of dozens of innocent civilians, including women and children. El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur State, holds immense strategic importance as it is the last stronghold of the Rapid Support Forces in the vast Darfur region. It also serves as a vital hub for humanitarian operations and a refuge for hundreds of thousands of internally displaced persons fleeing violence in other areas. The attack on El Fasher threatens to ignite a new wave of ethnic violence and exacerbate the humanitarian crisis to unprecedented levels.
The Saudi role and the call for adherence to international law
The Kingdom stressed the need for the Rapid Support Forces to immediately cease their violations and adhere to their moral and humanitarian obligation to ensure the delivery of relief aid to those in need. It also emphasized the importance of abiding by the Jeddah Declaration (Commitment to the Protection of Civilians in Sudan) , signed on May 11, 2023, which was sponsored by the Kingdom in cooperation with the United States. This declaration represents a fundamental framework for protecting civilians and facilitating humanitarian work, and a return to the Jeddah negotiations remains the best way to stop the bloodshed and find a comprehensive political solution that restores stability and unity to Sudan.
