Brussels: Europe and the Arabs
The European Union sent a new call to the warring parties in Sudan for an immediate ceasefire and to respect commitments. This came through a European statement issued in Brussels by the office of Foreign Policy Coordinator Josep Borrell. The statement included the European Union’s welcome to the results of the forty-first extraordinary assembly of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, which was hosted by Djibouti. On December 9, 2023.
The statement said, "The mutual commitments made by the warring parties to the conflict in Sudan must be respected for an unconditional ceasefire, political dialogue, and face-to-face meeting."
The European Union urges the warring parties to stop fighting immediately and respect the commitments they made to the region's leaders. The Sudanese people have suffered a lot. Unhindered humanitarian access must be ensured and the civilian population given the protection to which they are entitled under international law.
The European Union particularly praised the efforts of Djibouti President Ismail Omar Guelleh and Kenyan President William Ruto and the unity of purpose demonstrated by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development and the African Union. We will continue to support African-led efforts to chart a unified and coordinated path to peace, in cooperation with the Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-General, Ramtane Lamamra. Now is also the time for all stakeholders to redouble their efforts to build a broader and more inclusive Sudanese civil coalition that will be the basis for resuming the transition to democracy and preserving Sudan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.