A group of high-ranking foreign ministers, including German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, demands an end to the fighting in Sudan. They condemn the systematic violence against civilians as abhorrent violations of international law. The declaration refers to the recent capture of Al-Fashir by the Rapid Support Forces.
An international group of foreign ministers and government representatives has called on the conflicting parties in Sudan to agree to a ceasefire and a three-month humanitarian truce. The declaration, published by the German Foreign Office, comes from representatives of Australia, Iceland, Canada, Norway, the United Kingdom, and ten EU member states, including Johann Wadephul (CDU) as Germany's foreign minister.
The signatories condemn the 'systematic and ongoing violence against civilians in Sudan.' They describe targeted attacks on civilians, ethnically motivated mass killings, conflict-related sexual violence, starvation as a method of warfare, and obstruction of humanitarian access as 'abhorrent violations' of humanitarian international law. If proven, these acts constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The declaration responds to reports of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) capturing Al-Fashir at the end of October, which has solidified RSF control over Darfur in their two-and-a-half-year war with the Sudanese army. Escalations in North Darfur and Kordofan, as well as attempts to divide the country, raise concerns. Women fleeing Al-Fashir reported to UN Women about killings, systematic rape, and the disappearance of their children. People escaping the city describe shootings at civilians and drone attacks.
The International Organization for Migration warns that humanitarian operations are 'on the brink of collapse': Warehouses are almost empty, aid convoys face significant security risks, and access restrictions prevent adequate deliveries. Unicef's Sudan envoy, Sheldon Yett, compares the situation to the Rwanda genocide: 'Much of what is happening in parts of Sudan reminds me of that. The reports of the frenzy. The joy in killing.' He describes 'shocking' survivor accounts of murders, extortion, and rapes, calling Sudan a 'testing ground for modern warfare.' 'There is a complete breakdown of any order.'