The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights defended a ceasefire in Sudan on Tuesday, calling on the parties to resume peaceful negotiations to end a conflict that has already left 185 dead and 1,800 injured.
“The fights are born from power games and personal interests that only serve to alienate the democratic aspirations of the population; Until a few weeks ago, it seemed that Sudan was on the right track towards an agreement to restore civilian governance, so common sense must prevail and all parties must act to reduce tensions, because the interests of the Sudanese people must come first.” said Volker Turk.
During a press conference quoted by the EFE news agency this morning in Geneva, the high commissioner lamented the outbreak of violence in recent days and warned that this could derail the process of returning to civil governance.
Calling for a thorough investigation into the violence in the country, especially the killings of civilians and in particular of three World Food Program workers, Volker Türk stressed that “Sudan has already endured a lot of pain and suffering” and asked the military and paramilitaries if they don’t realize “that the civilian population only wants a peaceful life”.
The UN counted at least 185 dead and some 1,800 wounded, identified mainly in the capital, Khartoum, but also in other cities in this African country.
“Thousands and thousands of civilians are trapped in their homes, fleeing the fighting, without electricity, unable to go out and worried about running out of food, drinking water and medicine,” added the Austrian, recalling both the Armed Forces and the paramilitaries of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), their duty to guarantee the protection of citizens and civilian infrastructure.
The outbreak of violence broke out over the weekend between the two top Sudanese generals, each backed by tens of thousands of heavily armed fighters, with thousands of people remaining in their homes or other shelters since, without supplies and several hospitals forced . to close services.
Faced with the ongoing tragedy, diplomats from different countries tried unsuccessfully to negotiate a truce, and the United Nations Security Council was convened to discuss the crisis.
The power struggle pitted General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, commander of the armed forces, against General Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, head of the Rapid Support Forces, a paramilitary group, in a radical reversal against the joint organization of a coup. military in October 2021. .
Now the violence has raised the specter of civil war, as the Sudanese were trying to push for democratic civilian rule after decades of military rule.
Under international pressure, Burhan and Dagalo recently agreed to a framework agreement with political parties and pro-democracy groups, but the signing was repeatedly delayed as tensions rose between the two factions over the integration of the RSF into the armed forces. and the definition of the future. chain of command.
Just four years ago, Sudan sparked hope after a popular uprising helped oust autocratic leader Omar al-Bashir, but unrest since then, especially the 2021 coup, has thwarted the democratic drive and wrecked the economy.
Source: TSF
