The UN calls for “common sense” and urges the Army and the RSF paramilitaries to ceasefire in Sudan

18 Apr. (EUROPE PRESS) –

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, has made an appeal on Tuesday to the “common sense” of the parties to the conflict in Sudan and has demanded that the Army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) “reduce tensions” through an immediate cessation of hostilities, which have so far left 185 dead and around 1,800 injured.

“Just a few weeks ago it seemed that Sudan was on the right track towards an agreement to restore civilian rule. Common sense must prevail and all parties must act to reduce tensions. The shared interests of the Sudanese people must come first.” , has held.

“Sudan has already endured a lot of pain and suffering. The fighting derives from power games and personal interests that only serve to align the democratic aspirations of the population,” Turk said, asking those “responsible” if “they don’t understand that the civilian population only asks for a peaceful life”.

Thus, he lamented that “thousands of civilians are trapped in their homes, hiding from the fighting, without electricity, unable to go outside while and worried about running out of food, drinking water and medicine”, while called on the Army and the RSF to “remind their combatants of their obligations under International Law to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure.”

Turk has also been shocked by reports of attempted rape in the context of the clashes and has called for exhaustive and independent investigations into the deaths of civilians, including three World Food Program (WFP) workers, as well as other violations. allegedly committed by the parties during the fighting.

The fighting broke out 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 Al Burhan led a coup in October 2021 that overthrew the then unity prime minister, Abdalá Hamdok, appointed to the position as a result of contacts between civilians and the military after the riot of April 2019, which put an end to 30 years of the regime of Omar Hasan al Bashir.