UK’s Deputy Ambassador to the UN, James Kariuki, announced plans to propose a draft resolution calling for a ceasefire in Sudan during the upcoming Muslim holy month of Ramadan. António Guterres, the UN Secretary General, similarly urged conflicting Sudanese factions to cease hostilities, emphasizing the immense potential of the ongoing dispute to destabilize the entire region. The ceasefire could help in laying down a solid foundation for long-term peace in the Sudan, he told the Security Council. Guterres further expressed serious concerns about human rights abuses in Sudan, drawing attention to genocide and other crimes committed by the Rapid Support Forces and affiliated militias. The conflict has left about half of Sudan’s population, roughly 25 million people, in dire need of humanitarian aid. Record-breaking levels of acute food scarcity are also being seen, with child deaths from malnourishment being reported. A UN report revealed earlier this year that 10,000-15,000 individuals were killed in only one city in West Darfur last year due to ethnically fuelled violence. The Security Council has, so far this year, issued only three public statements condemning the violence in Sudan.
