UN Secretary-General condemns Rapid Support Forces

UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed alarm at the ongoing attacks by the Rapid Support Forces on the city of El Fasher in North Darfur, Sudan.

A statement attributed to his spokesperson issued on Friday stated that El Fasher has been under a crippling siege for more than 500 days, with hundreds of thousands of civilians trapped in the area.

He added that recent weeks have witnessed near-constant shelling of the area and repeated deadly incursions into the Abu Shouk camp for internally displaced persons, where famine conditions were declared in December 2024.

Since August 11, the UN has documented the killing of at least 125 civilians in the El Fasher area, including summary executions, and the actual death toll is likely higher.

Guterres expressed his concern about the grave risk of serious violations of international humanitarian law, as well as violations and abuses of international human rights law, including tribally motivated abuses.

The statement noted that supplies had been pre-positioned nearby, but efforts by the United Nations and its partners to deliver them to El Fasher continued to face obstacles.

He added that recent months had witnessed repeated attacks on humanitarian workers and humanitarian assets in North Darfur.

The Secretary-General called for an immediate ceasefire in and around El Fasher, stressing the need to take immediate steps to protect civilians, enable the safe, unhindered, and sustainable delivery of humanitarian assistance to the area, and allow any civilians wishing to voluntarily leave the area.

The statement indicated that the Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy, Ramtane Lamamra, continues to engage with the warring parties and stands ready to support sincere efforts to end the violence and establish an inclusive political process demanded by the people of Sudan.