The United Nations Secretary General António Guterres has urged Sudanese warring parties to commit to an immediate cessation of hostilities and resume talks towards a lasting ceasefire and a comprehensive, inclusive and Sudanese-owned political process.
Briefing journalists on Saturday on the margins of the 39th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU) in Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa, Guterres said conflicts in Africa are compounded by multiple actors and interests.
Recalling the carnage committed in Sudan’s city of el-Fasher where at least 6000 people were reportedly killed in just three days, Guterres said the UN Security Council will hold accountable those who committed the crimes.
“The difficulty has been that both sides believe that they can win the war and at the same time, a number of other countries are fueling that war in a way that makes the negotiations for peace much more difficult,” he said.
He said the warring parties must commit to an immediate cessation of hostilities and resume talks towards a lasting ceasefire and a comprehensive, inclusive and Sudanese-owned political process.
“Together with the African Union, the Arab League, the Quad, an international mediation group, and with other key actors, there should be put effective pressure for an immediate ceasefire, access without any restrictions to all areas of Sudan and a Sudanese-led process leading to a new civilian democratic government,” he said.
He further said other parts of Africa is also facing enduring security challenges with many parts of the continent facing deep and complex crises especially in Democratic Republic of Congo, the Sahel, and Horn of Africa.
On South Sudan, the secretary general hopes that the AU’s high-level Ad Hoc Committee will help revive political dialogue and prevent renewed conflicts.
Talking on security situations in Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Guterres said commitments must be honored with an immediate ceasefire and the respect of the territorial integrity of the country.
The secretary general said political and security gains must be consolidated in the Central African Republic while in Libya, all actors must advance a Libyan-led political process, supported by the United Nations Support Mission.
Guterres said coordinated efforts are essential to end cycles of violence, terrorism and displacement in West Africa and across the Sahel region while a sustained and predictable funding for the AU Support and Stabilization Mission must be in place in Somalia to deal with the security challenges in the Horn African country.
MG/as/APA