New York, UN
Rosemary DiCarlo, Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs
Madam President,
In each of my briefings to this Council on Sudan this year, I reported that the situation was deteriorating with no breakthrough on the horizon.
Regrettably, today I can report that little has changed.
The people of Sudan continue to face the brutal reality of conflict – enduring relentless fighting, a worsening humanitarian crisis, severe economic hardship and the collapse of basic services.
Since my last briefing, fighting has continued, most notably in North Kordofan, South Kordofan and Blue Nile states.
While these states remain the epicenters of violence, the conflict's impact extends far beyond these front lines.
Across the country, drone and air strikes continue to place civilians at risk.
Particularly harrowing incidents have resulted in civilian deaths in locations as far ranging as an internally displaced persons camp in Blue Nile state, an artisanal gold mine in Red Sea state and a range of civilian sites in North Kordofan – including educational facilities, a courthouse, a university dormitory and a shelter for displaced families.
Humanitarian operations have also repeatedly come under attack.
We strongly condemn the drone strike on two trucks contracted by the World Food Programme transporting life-saving food assistance on 3 October, which killed one of the drivers.
These trucks were travelling in an area that has been under sustained attack by the Rapid Support Forces and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North. They were clearly marked as humanitarian vehicles and held all required travel permits.
With weapons continuing to flow into Sudan, and all parties continuing to recruit fighters, the risk of further escalation in the coming months remains high.
And as fighting continues to escalate, human suffering deepens.
Madam President,
The security situation along Sudan’s borders is increasingly worrying.
In a region already marked by multiple crises, the conflict continues to affect Sudan’s neighbours, some of whom are facing significant fragility themselves.
We urge all actors to avoid any acts that could result in conflict spilling across borders. Preventing a wider regional crisis must remain our collective priority.
Madam President,
The picture is bleak. Despite the immense suffering the war has inflicted on the Sudanese people, the parties continue to show no credible commitment to compromise or to pursuing a negotiated pause in fighting.
They are not moving closer to dialogue.
On the contrary, they seem to believe that they can make greater gains on the battlefield and that continued external support will allow them to pursue their objectives by force.
Their calculations must change.
We urge all external actors to use their influence to bring this war to an end, not to fuel it further.
We continue coordinating with the Quad as it works to secure an agreement on a humanitarian truce. We stand ready to support the implementation of any such agreement.
But we cannot afford to wait. We must pursue practical measures that could reduce violence, save lives, and alleviate civilian suffering.
One such measure – with the potential to dramatically improve protection for civilians – would be for the conflict parties to immediately cease their use of drones. At a minimum, they should agree on concrete commitments and operational arrangements to strictly regulate their drone use.
Drone attacks remain the leading cause of civilian casualties this year.
We stand ready to work with the Quad and other partners in advancing new proposals that can reduce violence, protect civilians and mitigate the humanitarian consequences of this war.
Madam President,
The Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General for Sudan, Pekka Haavisto, is in constant contact with the parties to advance confidence-building measures that could help rebuild trust, foster more constructive engagement between them and deliver tangible benefits to the Sudanese people.
Both parties have now established committees to look into unilateral releases of detainees and negotiated exchanges of prisoners.
Personal Envoy Haavisto – working closely with UNICEF – is also engaging the parties to secure universal access to a single, nationally recognized Grade 12 examination for all Sudanese students.
This would help safeguard educational continuity for an entire generation of young Sudanese and ensure that their future opportunities are not determined by the frontlines of a war that they did not choose.
Further, discussions with the Chadian authorities on arrangements for Sudanese refugee students in Chad are continuing.
These initiatives demonstrate that practical progress remains possible, even in the midst of conflict. But dialogue alone is not enough. The Sudanese people need to see results.
We therefore urge the parties to translate these discussions into clear commitments and tangible actions without delay.
We also call on all Member States to use their influence and resources to support these efforts and help create momentum toward a broader political process and, ultimately, a sustainable peace.
Madam President,
Personal Envoy Haavisto also remains closely engaged with our Quintet partners to help Sudanese civilians in their efforts to unify around a political future that reflects the aspirations of the Sudanese people.
In early September, the Quintet Principals visited Khartoum to hear directly from Sudanese stakeholders inside the country, including their perspectives on ongoing political initiatives.
Engaging with the broadest array of Sudanese women, youth, and other underrepresented groups remains central to these efforts.
Across all these engagements, one message has been conveyed with remarkable consistency: civilians want this war to end and want a return to civilian-led governance.
Madam President,
The political and security negotiations cannot proceed on separate tracks. They are fundamentally interconnected and mutually reinforcing.
I was pleased to participate in the first Quintet-Quad meeting during the General Assembly High-Level Week, which allowed us to strengthen our coordination and reinforce a shared international approach. We can only help the Sudanese people if international actors work with unity of purpose and speak with one voice.
The Sudan Consultative Group meeting in Geneva next week – bringing together the Quad, Quintet, and other key mediation actors – will be another opportunity to align our efforts, close gaps and strengthen collective leverage in support of peace.
International engagement on Sudan is gaining momentum. The momentum must be matched by a clear commitment from the parties to end the fighting and engage seriously in a political process.
Madam President,
In closing, I wish to recognize the upcoming anniversary of the fall of El Fasher.
As we mark this somber milestone, we must not lose sight of the devastating human toll of this war, nor of the atrocities that have been, and continue to be, committed.
Preventing further atrocities requires more than expressions of concern. It requires action. The parties, and those who continue to enable, arm, finance or politically support them, must face far greater pressure to end this war.
They must also understand that accountability is not optional.
The Sudanese people have endured unimaginable suffering. They deserve peace and a credible path toward a better future.
Once again, I call on the Council to use every tool at its disposal to help bring this devastating conflict to an end. Thank you.