UN Demands Halt to RSF Siege on North Darfur Capital

In Summary

• The RSF siege on El Fasher is poised to take the last remaining city in Darfur from the SAF.
• A British-drafted resolution demands a halt to the RSF siege and calls for de-escalation; adopted 14-0, with Russia abstaining.
• Over 800,000 civilians are sheltering in El Fasher; 5 million Sudanese on the brink of famine.
• Sudan’s deputy U.N. ambassador accuses the UAE of supplying arms to the RSF, a claim the UAE denies.
• The U.N. warns of a potential catastrophe in El Fasher, urging international attention and intervention.

DETAILS

Juba, South Sudan- The U.N. Security Council demanded Thursday that the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) halt their siege on the North Darfur capital, El Fasher, as they are poised to take the last remaining city in Sudan’s Darfur region from the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF).

The council adopted a British-drafted resolution in a 14-0 vote, with Russia abstaining. The council also called for de-escalation in and around the city, where more than 800,000 civilians have been sheltering, many displaced from other parts of Darfur.

“This council has sent a strong signal to the parties to the conflict today,” British Ambassador Barbara Woodward said. “This brutal and unjust conflict needs to end.” It was not immediately clear if the parties would heed the council’s demands. An earlier resolution in March that called for a cease-fire during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan was ignored.

The situation in North Darfur’s capital escalated on May 10 when clashes erupted inside El Fasher between the SAF, who are inside the city, and the RSF, who attacked surrounding towns before entering the state capital. Thousands of people have since tried to flee, and humanitarians report hundreds of civilian casualties.

Sudan’s deputy U.N. ambassador said El Fasher is facing “great and unprecedented dangers,” and he urged the council to hold responsible external actors who are fueling the conflict. “The support by some countries to these militias directly contributes to the continuation of violence and destruction in the Sudan,” Ammar Mohammed said. “And we name here the official and regional sponsor of the criminal militias — namely the United Arab Emirates — whose support and weaponry leads to entrenching the suffering and misery of civilians in the Sudan.”

The United Arab Emirates has repeatedly denied sending arms to the RSF. However, a report by a U.N. panel of experts earlier this year indicated that cargo planes originating in Abu Dhabi had landed in eastern Chad with arms, ammunition, and medical equipment destined for the RSF.

Meanwhile, the humanitarian situation grows more dire by the day. The United Nations warns that 5 million Sudanese are on the brink of famine, including tens of thousands of people in the Darfur region. The council demanded in its resolution Thursday that the parties ensure the protection of civilians and facilitate rapid, safe, and unhindered aid access.

“The impact of today’s vote will be measured by the results on the ground,” said U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield. “So, the RSF and SAF must heed the demands of this council. We will be watching closely. If the situation on the ground doesn’t change for the better, this council must take further action.” She said that could include authorizing cross-border aid access from Sudan’s neighbors.