UN chief appeals to Sudanese leaders to halt fighting

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appealed to Sudan's warring parties to immediately end the fighting, warning that continued hostilities risk the country's future as the death toll continued to mount.

Guterres strongly condemned the ongoing fighting between Sudan's military and its Rapid Support Forces (RSF), urging them to "immediately cease hostilities, restore calm and begin a dialogue to resolve the crisis."

"The situation has already led to horrendous loss of life, including many civilians. 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," he said at the UN's New York headquarters.

"The humanitarian situation in Sudan was already precarious and is now catastrophic. I condemn the deaths and injuries to civilians and humanitarian workers and the targeting and looting of premises. I remind all parties of the need to respect international law, including ensuring the safety and security of all United Nations and associated personnel and humanitarian aid workers," he added.

Fighting between the military and the RSF entered its third day Monday as local medics reported at least 97 people dead and hundreds of others injured in the clashes.

The dispute between the two sides came to the surface last week, when the army said recent movements by the RSF had occurred without coordination and were illegal.

Sudan has been without a functioning government since October 2021, when the military dismissed Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok’s transitional government and declared a state of emergency in a move decried by political forces as a “coup.”

Sudan’s transitional period, which started in August 2019, was scheduled to end with elections in early 2024.​​​​​​​