The Permanent Representative of Tunisia, Abdelhamid Gharbi, President of the AUPSC, and Moussa Faki Mahamat, President of the AU, chaired the ordinary session, which reaffirmed the Council’s solidarity with the Sudanese people in their quest to restore constitutional order and their commitment with respect for sovereignty.
A final statement revealed that they are watching with grave concern and alarm these deadly clashes, which have reached dangerous proportions and could escalate into full-blown conflict, undermining progress towards a peaceful transition to democracy and stability in Khartoum.
He condemned the use of force with a tally of 56 dead and 600 killed, according to official sources. The casualty figures must be increasing because they do not include the western Darfur region, where there is also fierce fighting in Al Fasher and Nyala and in Al Obeid in North Kordofan state.
The text calls for an “immediate, unconditional ceasefire from both sides in the best interests of Sudan and its people to prevent further bloodshed and harm to innocent civilians; protect civilians, especially women and children; and provide humanitarian assistance to civilians involved in the conflict.”
Similarly, it demanded that the Sudanese Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces swiftly adopt a peaceful solution and inclusive dialogue to resolve their differences in order to promote stability and respect people’s desires for the restoration of democracy, constitutionalism and the rule of law.
On the other hand, the Council rejected any outside interference and urged the countries of the region and other stakeholders to support ongoing efforts to bring Sudan back into the transition process to a constitutional order.
She will send a field mission to that country to discuss the current situation with all interested parties and will extend the consultations with United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Workhen Gebeyehu to consolidate international response.
Fighting in Sudan began Saturday morning after the Rapid Deployment Forces accused the army of attacking their positions, an action the forces said was in response to an attack.
Local press reports indicate that fighting continued this Sunday near the armed forces’ headquarters, in central Khartoum and elsewhere.
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