United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres addressed the Security Council on Monday, urging for greater support to safeguard civilians in Sudan amidst a violent conflict between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The conflict, which erupted in April 2023, has intensified into what Guterres called “a nightmare of mass ethnic violence,” mirroring previous atrocities seen in Sudan’s Darfur region two decades ago.
The violence has led to thousands of civilian deaths and triggered the world’s largest displacement crisis, displacing 11 million people within Sudan and driving nearly three million others to flee the country. According to the United Nations, nearly 25 million people – half of Sudan’s population – are in desperate need of humanitarian aid. Yet, aid access has been hindered by Sudanese authorities, with reports of obstruction, intimidation, and targeting of humanitarian workers.
In one of the latest violent incidents, RSF forces allegedly killed at least 124 people in a village in El Gezira State, marking one of the conflict's deadliest events. While the RSF has denied these allegations, Guterres noted growing calls from Sudanese and human rights organizations for stronger protective measures, including the potential deployment of an impartial force. However, he emphasized that current conditions are not suitable for the deployment of a UN peacekeeping force, proposing instead to explore alternative measures to protect civilians.
In response, U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Linda Thomas-Greenfield voiced Washington’s alarm over the Sudanese authorities' restrictions on humanitarian aid, stressing the need for streamlined access routes. She urged Sudan to keep the Adre border crossing with Chad open, warning that any closure would further obstruct aid delivery and intensify the crisis.
Sudan’s U.N. Ambassador Al-Harith Idriss Al-Harith Mohamed defended the government's actions, asserting a commitment to facilitate humanitarian aid across the country, including in RSF-controlled areas. However, Mohamed also raised concerns about the security risks posed by the Adre crossing, alleging that it has enabled the flow of weapons and mercenaries into Sudan.
The Security Council remains divided on the issue, with Russia's U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia supporting Sudan’s sovereignty over its border policies, emphasizing that humanitarian aid should be coordinated with Sudanese central authorities.
As the situation worsens, humanitarian organizations face an urgent deadline: Sudan’s temporary authorization for aid to cross the Adre border expires in mid-November.