March 9, 2024
Agencies – Darfur 24
With the support of 14 members and Russia’s abstention, the UN Security Council UNSC adopted a resolution submitted by the United Kingdom, calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities in Sudan during the month of Ramadan and for all parties to the conflict to seek a sustainable solution through dialogue.
The resolution calls on all parties to ensure that any obstacles are removed and that humanitarian access is fully, quickly, safely and unhindered, including across borders and lines of contact, and to comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law.
These include obligations to protect civilians and civilian objects, and pledges under the Declaration of Commitment to Protect Civilians in Sudan, known as the “Jeddah Declaration.”
The resolution encourages the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General to Sudan, Ramtane Lamamra, to use his good offices with neighboring parties and countries to complement and coordinate regional peace efforts.
After the adoption of Resolution No. 2724, James Kariuki, Deputy Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom, said that the resolution sends a strong message to the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces of the need to agree on an immediate cessation of hostilities during the month of Ramadan. He urged both sides to work to respond to the unified international call for peace, silence the guns, build confidence, and seek to resolve the conflict through dialogue.
He expressed concern about the dire humanitarian situation in Sudan, supported UN agencies and the humanitarian community and stressed the need to ensure urgent, safe and unhindered humanitarian access for those in need. He welcomed all mediation efforts to help end this brutal conflict.
“The role of the international community”
Anna Evstigneva, Deputy Permanent Representative of Russia to the United Nations, explained the abstention from voting on the draft resolution, and said that her country has repeatedly called on the Sudanese parties to stop hostilities, stressing that this is the way to solve all the problems facing Sudan and reach a political settlement.
She said that the Sudanese parties bear the main responsibility for the situation in their country, and they must decide its future. She stated that it is the responsibility of representatives of the international community, including members of the Security Council, to facilitate this and not impose their rules and principles on sovereign states.