United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has made a powerful appeal to the Security Council, urging support to protect civilians amid escalating violence in Sudan. Speaking on Monday, Guterres described the dire conditions in the war-torn nation, highlighting “unspeakable atrocities,” including widespread sexual assaults, thousands of civilian casualties, and the worsening humanitarian crisis.
The conflict, which erupted in April 2023 from a power struggle between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has caused the world’s largest displacement crisis. Nearly 25 million people, half of Sudan’s population, now require urgent aid, with famine spreading in displacement camps. Ethnic violence, particularly in regions like Darfur, has drawn chilling comparisons to conflicts from two decades ago when Sudanese leaders were charged with genocide by the International Criminal Court.
“Sudan is, once again, rapidly becoming a nightmare of mass ethnic violence,” Guterres told the council, condemning the violence attributed to RSF forces, including a recent attack in El Gezira State that left at least 124 civilians dead. Despite widespread calls from Sudanese and human rights groups for U.N. intervention, Guterres noted that current conditions make the deployment of a U.N. peacekeeping force infeasible. However, he expressed willingness to explore alternative measures for violence reduction and civilian protection, urging “new approaches adapted to the challenging circumstances of the conflict.”
Adding to the urgency, U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Linda Thomas-Greenfield voiced Washington’s alarm over obstacles to humanitarian aid access. She accused Sudanese authorities of undermining and intimidating aid officials, calling for streamlined and expanded access to deliver life-saving support to millions affected by the crisis.
With an estimated 11 million Sudanese displaced from their homes—three million of whom have fled to neighboring countries—the international community faces mounting pressure to respond effectively to Sudan’s escalating humanitarian disaster.
