PORT Sudan, Sudan: Sudan has dismissed a UN proposal for an “independent and impartial force” to protect civilians displaced by the ongoing conflict between the Sudanese army and paramilitary forces. The war, which began in April last year, has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and created a severe humanitarian crisis.
The UN fact-finding mission, which recently investigated the situation, described “harrowing” violations by both sides, potentially constituting war crimes and crimes against humanity. The mission recommended deploying an international force to safeguard civilians immediately. However, Sudan’s foreign ministry, aligned with the army under General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, rejected these recommendations, labeling them a “flagrant violation” of the UN’s mandate and criticizing the Human Rights Council as a “political and illegal body.”
The conflict has displaced over eight million civilians within Sudan and forced two million to flee to neighboring countries. More than 25 million people, half of Sudan’s population, face acute food shortages. The foreign ministry blamed the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, led by Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, for targeting civilians and asserted that the Sudanese government prioritizes civilian protection. It also dismissed calls for an arms embargo, arguing that the UN should support Sudan’s national processes rather than imposing external mechanisms.
