UN Warns of Worsening Crisis in Sudan as Foreign Support Fuels Ongoing Conflict

United Nations-The situation in Sudan has escalated into a "crisis of epic proportions," according to the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, Rosemary Anne DiCarlo, in her briefing to the Security Council this past Friday.

DiCarlo highlighted the significant role foreign intervention plays in exacerbating the war, with countries providing weapons and other forms of support despite existing U.N. sanctions.

DiCarlo criticized these external actors for their continuous disregard of the sanctions regime, which was put in place to encourage a political resolution to the conflict, notably in the Darfur region.

"This is illegal, it is immoral and it must stop,” she stated emphatically during the session. The sanctions under resolution 1591 encompass arms embargoes and asset freezes, aimed at the conflicting parties in Darfur that have been in turmoil since the early 2000s.

Echoing DiCarlo's concerns, Mohamed Ibn Chambas, chair of the African Union panel on Sudan and high representative for its Silence the Guns in Africa initiative, pointed out that external interference severely hampers ceasefire negotiations and ongoing peace efforts.

The conflict continues to rage, fueled by international involvement, as noted without naming specific countries, though reports have implicated Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Egypt.

Amid the geopolitical maneuvers, Sudan's representative in New York, Al-Harith Idriss al-Harith Mohamed, made a poignant plea to the Council for Sudanese-led solutions, urging the international community to refrain from imposing external solutions that undermine Sudan’s sovereignty and conflict resolution capabilities.

The human cost of the conflict, as outlined by DiCarlo, is staggering with over 14,000 fatalities, tens of thousands wounded, and a looming famine threatening 25 million people in need of urgent aid. Additionally, the conflict has displaced over 8.6 million individuals.

The violence peaked when tensions between Sudan's military, led by Gen. Abdel Fattah Burhan, and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) under Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo erupted into open conflict on April 15 last year.

The RSF, predominantly Arab, has been particularly aggressive in Darfur, targeting ethnic African civilians, especially from the Masalit community.

The situation remains dire as the RSF continues its assaults, with recent attacks near El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, according to Edem Wosornu, director of operations at the U.N. humanitarian office.

Villages west of El Fasher were attacked and burned on April 13, signaling a continued escalation with no end in sight, and intensifying international concern over the deepening humanitarian catastrophe.