Khartoum – Brussels: Europe and the Arabs – Agencies

Sudan has recently witnessed a dangerous escalation in drone attacks targeting civilians and health and humanitarian aid teams, particularly in Darfur and Kordofan, which are considered the epicenter of the most serious humanitarian crisis.

Sudanese civil and political forces addressed an urgent memorandum to the leadership of the Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, calling for an immediate humanitarian truce to coincide with the start of the holy month of Ramadan.

This initiative includes a complete cessation of hostilities, the protection of civilians, and the guarantee of safe and unhindered access for humanitarian aid.

The memorandum stipulated:

An immediate and comprehensive humanitarian truce beginning with the start of the holy month, including a complete cessation of hostilities, the protection of civilians and vital infrastructure, the opening of safe and unhindered corridors for humanitarian aid, and enabling relief organizations to carry out their work.

The immediate and unconditional release of all civilian detainees held by both sides.

The immediate commencement of prisoner exchange arrangements under international supervision that guarantees respect for international humanitarian law. Establishing clear mechanisms for implementation and monitoring to prevent any military exploitation of the truce and ensure its adherence.

We hope for a responsible response from both sides of the conflict and broad support for this initiative, to stop the bloodshed and save Sudan and its people.

Signatories (Major Forces):
The National Umma Party, the Federal Gathering, the Sudanese Congress Party, the Popular Congress Party, the National Ba'ath Party, the Sudanese National Alliance, the Nasserist and Unionist Parties, the Professionals' Coordination, the Resistance Committees Coordination (Steadfastness Alliance), and a number of other parties and civil forces.

The document also emphasized the necessity of establishing clear and robust mechanisms for implementing the truce and monitoring adherence to it, to prevent any military exploitation of humanitarian pauses. It stressed that this initiative stems from the escalating suffering of the Sudanese people after more than a thousand days of war, which has pushed the most vulnerable groups, especially women, children, and the elderly, into extremely dangerous humanitarian conditions requiring urgent intervention.

In the same vein, the European Union, along with Britain and Canada, condemned the violence in Sudan, which they said "may amount to war crimes or crimes against humanity," according to a joint statement issued Wednesday and signed by 31 foreign ministers and international officials.

The statement read: "We condemn in the strongest terms the horrific acts of violence perpetrated against civilians, particularly women and children, as well as all serious violations of international humanitarian law."

The statement added that these violations "must be the subject of swift and impartial investigations."

Sudan has been embroiled in a bloody conflict since April 2023 between the Sudanese army, led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the Rapid Support Forces, led by his former deputy, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo.

Human rights organizations accuse both sides of committing atrocities, including killings and attacks on civilians, including the targeting of women and children.

The conflict has led to one of the world's worst humanitarian crises, according to the United Nations, with tens of thousands of civilians killed and some 14 million people displaced both within and outside the country. Sudan has also witnessed a dangerous escalation in drone attacks targeting civilians and health and humanitarian aid workers, particularly in Darfur and Kordofan, which are considered the epicenter of the most serious humanitarian crisis.

The joint statement was signed by the foreign ministers of 24 EU member states, along with the foreign ministers of Canada, the United Kingdom, Iceland, Norway, and New Zealand, as well as the European Commission and a Swiss official responsible for humanitarian affairs.

The signatories called on the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), the Sudanese Armed Forces, and allied militias to immediately cease hostilities.

Last week, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights accused the RSF of committing war crimes and potential crimes against humanity, urging the international community to intensify investigations and bring those responsible for violations to international justice.

The war in Sudan has not only affected local civilians but has also exacerbated the plight of refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs), with severe shortages of food, water, medicine, and shelter, making it difficult for humanitarian aid to reach many affected areas.