Guterres calls for a three-day ceasefire in Sudan to mark the end of the month of Ramadan

20 Apr. (EUROPE PRESS) –

The Secretary General of the United Nations, António Guterres, has called this Thursday for a ceasefire of “at least three days” in the fighting between the Sudanese Army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan on the occasion of Eid al Fitr , the end of the month of Ramadan.

“It is an important moment in the Muslim calendar. I think it is the right time for a ceasefire to be declared. It is absolutely crucial at the present moment,” Guterres said at a press conference, a request that was previously made by the secretary general of the Arab League, Ahmed Abul Gheit.

Guterres has also specified that the situation is “outrageous” and that he is “appalled” by the prospect of a further escalation that puts the civilian population at risk, especially minors of school age.

“The end of hostilities must be followed by a serious dialogue that allows a transition period to establish a civilian government. The fighting must cease immediately,” he said, also expressing his concern about the situation of humanitarian organizations in the country. .

Guterres participated this Thursday in a virtual meeting with the president of the African Union, Azali Assoumani, the secretary general of the Arab League, Ahmed Abul Gheit, and the executive secretary of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), Workneh Gebeyeh.

Hostilities broke out between the parties on Saturday in the context of an increase in tensions over the reform of the security apparatus and the integration of the paramilitary force within the Armed Forces, a key part of an agreement signed in December to form a new civil government and reactivate the transition.

The talks process began with international mediation after the head of the Army and president of the Sovereign Transition Council, Abdelfatá al Burhan, led a coup in October 2021 that overthrew the then prime minister of unity, Abdalá Hamdok, appointed to the position as a result of contacts between civilians and the military after the April 2019 riot, which ended 30 years of the regime of Omar Hasan al Bashir.