Statement delivered by Ambassador Toufik Koudri, Deputy Permanent Representative of Algeria to the United Nations, on behalf of the A3+, at the Security Council Briefing on the situation in Sudan

Thank You Mr President,
I have the honor to deliver this joint Statement on behalf of the A3+ members, namely, Guyana, Sierra Leone, Somalia and my own Country, Algeria.

We wish to thank Mrs Edem Wosornu for her briefing. We also welcome the participation of the Representatives of Sudan, Angola, Kenya and Egypt to this meeting.

Almost two years have passed since the deadly conflict in Sudan started. Civilians, particularly children, women and girls, continue to endure unspeakable violations, forced displacements and targeted killings resulting in an alarming humanitarian crisis. In addition to the alarming security and humanitarian situation, the recent political developments in Sudan are also a source of serious concern.

In view of the concerning situation in Sudan we wish to underline the following points:

First, we are deeply concerned that the parties seem more convinced that the solution to the conflict can only be reached through military means. We reiterate our call for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire to lay the foundations for an inclusive, meaningful, Sudanese-led and Sudanese owned peace process, that fully reflects the aspirations of the Sudanese people.
We seize this opportunity to echo the Secretary-General’s call for all parties to observe a ceasefire during the holy month of Ramadan.
 
In this regard, we welcome the transition roadmap announced by the Government of Sudan, which includes, among other steps the formation of a civilian Government to be led by a civilian technocratic personality. We remain hopeful that the implementation of this roadmap will encompass all Sudanese actors, including Sudanese women and youth, to fulfill the crucial requirement of inclusiveness.

However, we express our serious concern over the announcement by the leaders of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) alongside other movements and political factions to establish a parallel authority in Sudan. This is a dangerous step that fuels further fragmentation in Sudan and derails ongoing efforts towards peace and dialogue. We call for these actions to be reversed and urge the RSF and their allies to put the unity and national interest of Sudan above all other considerations.

Second, although the recent developments on the ground demonstrate a prevalence and heightened use of force, we reiterate our support for a diplomatic path to resolving the conflict, including, to identify comprehensive and inclusive frameworks for dialogue between the Sudanese parties.

The need to coordinate diplomatic initiatives cannot be overemphasized while preserving the central role of the African Union and the United Nations through the SG’s Personal Envoy, M. Ramtane LAMAMRA.

In this context, we believe the Council should continue urging the parties to take part in a second round of the UN-facilitated proximity talks and honor their commitments made in Jeddah through an agreed mechanism.
 
The necessary bridges with the regional actors have to be put in place to ensure a coherent and coordinated action.

The unity of our Council is needed more than ever to convey the right message, which takes into account the developments on the ground, as well as the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Sudan.

Third, the humanitarian cost of this devastating war is unprecedented. The number of forcibly displaced Sudanese within and outside Sudan is appalling. In addition, the outbreak of cholera in the southern region of the country is a source of deep concern and requires international support to bolster the efforts deployed by the national authorities.

The complicated humanitarian situation is further exacerbated by the RSF’s repeated attacks against civilians in the besieged city of El Fasher and Zamzam IDP camp, where alarming levels of acute malnutrition have been registered.

These attacks, which constitute a clear violation of resolution 2736, did not only target civilians, including on the basis of ethnicity, but also critical infrastructure, particularly hospitals.
In this regard, it is imperative that all parties strictly respect International law, including international humanitarian law and the principles of human rights.

We commend the efforts deployed by all humanitarian actors on the ground and underline the need to scale up funding for humanitarian needs and response plan.
 
We also welcome the decision by the Government of Sudan to extend the authorization to keep the Adre border crossing open for an additional 3 months. It is necessary to sustain the different facilitation measures to allow continued and unhindered humanitarian access.

Dear Colleagues,
Foreign interferences remain as a persistent challenge in the search for a lasting solution to the conflict in Sudan. We therefore reiterate our call for a firm and public condemnation of these interferences and a strict compliance with the provisions of the existing sanctions regime and the arms embargo on the Darfur region.

To conclude, the Council and the international community must remain seized of the situation in Sudan with the sole objective of providing the needed support based on good faith and the promotion of national ownership.

I thank You.