The following Statement is issued by Ms Eiman Hamza Baldo, head of the Sudan Unit at the Next Century Foundation:

A statement to the UNSC meeting, 28 October 2024 on Sudan from the Next Century Foundation

For more some days now, since Rapid Support Services (RSF) officer Abuagla Keikal surrendered and subsequently defected to change sides to the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), the RSF has started a revenge campaign in Gezira state, in Central Sudan.
The region has witnessed the influx of the first wave of displaced people from Khartoum since April 2023. The entire region is now in flight mode. Conflict Related Sexual Violence (CRV) is rampant and almost every woman and girl is a victim of torture and rape or forced marriage and sexual slavery. Both the SAF and the RSF have been responsible in the past but the current wave of violence comes predominantly from the SAF. In the villages women and girls have been trapped in secluded rooms for days without access to food or hygiene.

We call for urgent action to save lives in Gezira. We draw attention to the atrocities taking place and the need to take account of civilian perspectives when considering measures for the protection of civilians.

The Geneva Ceasefire talks in August 2024, which had been seen as a critical opportunity for promoting humanitarian relief and the protection of civilians, have reached an impasse. However, humanitarian aid and civilian protection are not contingent on the stalled ceasefire talks. We urge the International Community:

• First: Urgently implement the Protection of Civilians (PoC) plan, collaborating with UN agencies to deploy a PoC mission in Sudan. In so doing, the International Community should avoid inadvertently legitimizing armed factions. Even if both parties commit to not attacking civilians, such promises are often short-lived. Therefore, a monitoring mechanism is necessary to ensure this commitment is upheld. In addition, all parties must be held accountable for non-compliance.
• Second: There is a grave need to unify mediation platforms and call for renewed talks to take place as a matter of urgency, prioritizing civilian safety. Protecting civilians in Gezira demands the swift opening of humanitarian corridors out of the reach of the RSF and SAF. Comprehensive humanitarian corridors across Sudan are urgently needed as the exodus of people out of Gezira is expected to be through multiple routes that cross regional boundaries.
• Third: a cease fire agreement along the lines of the N’Djamena Agreement 2004 needs to be urgently negotiated. It is high time for the UN Security Council to issue a resolution mandating the unimpeded monitoring of civilian protection. Such a resolution would hold all parties accountable for ensuring safe and rapid exit routes for those affected by the conflict. In addition, monitored humanitarian corridors need to be open to provide food and medicine urgently. Moreover, there is a need for digital platforms for cash transfers for the hungry displaced communities. It is vital to ensure that relief reaches all Sudanese, regardless of their location.
• Fourth: Sudanese national actors should be encouraged to support these mechanisms with contextual knowledge. Women are to be safely integrated in the design, implementation and monitoring of peace building processes. Empowering them as monitors will provide real-time updates and insights into local dynamics affecting compliance. This is particularly applicable because of the pervasive nature of gender-based violence, and the associated barriers to justice.

Rape as a tool of war and oppression and a strategy in civil conflicts

We need a multi-faceted approach to address these issues. All actions and declarations by the UN must adhere to international humanitarian and human rights laws, prioritizing robust mechanisms for the protection of civilians.

In this regard, we call for the extension of the UNSC Resolution 1591 to all parts of Sudan. A Panel of Experts needs to be established to assist the Committee in monitoring implementation and to coordinate its activities with other UN instruments chiefly the Fact Finding Mission.

The desperate cries for help from Gezira cannot continue to be met with the deafening silence by the UNSC.

Thank you

Ms Eiman Hamza Baldo, head of the Sudan Unit at the Next Century Foundation

Featured Image by David Peterson from Pixabay