The United Nations and African Union member states should begin preparations to deploy a mission to safeguard civilians in Sudan, where millions have been displaced and face famine following 18 months of brutal armed conflict.
In a new report to the UN Security Council, Secretary-General António Guterres outlines the steps member states should take to protect Sudanese civilians and pressure the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and their rivals, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), to cease committing atrocities. The Security Council is scheduled to discuss the report on 28 October.
The recent escalation of violence in Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, and in El Gezira state has once again placed civilians at extreme risk, with deliberate attacks and deaths or injuries caused by explosive weapons used by both sides. Civilians continue to face torture and summary executions, while women and girls endure widespread sexual violence.
Guterres calls for greater support to local responders and international investigations, as well as measures to halt the flow of arms to the warring factions. Human Rights Watch recently reported that both sides have acquired new weapons and military equipment—supplied by companies registered in China, Iran, Russia, Serbia, and the UAE—which could be used to commit further atrocities.
Guterres also highlights calls from Sudanese civilians and human rights groups, both local and international, for a physical protection mission, describing these appeals as “indicative of the gravity and urgency of the situation facing civilians.”
However, the Secretary-General’s report acknowledges that the conditions necessary for successfully deploying a UN force are not currently in place. Nevertheless, waiting for ceasefire negotiations to succeed or for ideal conditions to emerge is not an option. Civilians require protection now.
The UN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for Sudan has joined Human Rights Watch in calling for the deployment of a mission to protect civilians. Former President of Malawi Joyce Banda has noted that while deploying such a mission would be challenging, “the scale of Sudan’s crisis, the intransigence of the warring parties, and the clear and consistent demands from Sudanese civilians and civil society demand that we take action.” Such a presence could complement other protection measures recommended by Guterres.
The Security Council should also immediately extend the existing UN arms embargo on Darfur to cover the entire country, impose sanctions on those responsible for atrocities, and make it unequivocally clear that perpetrators will be held accountable.
The international community can no longer neglect the suffering of Sudanese civilians. The time for decisive action is now.
