Members of the United Nations Security Council, in a joint statement issued on Wednesday, vehemently condemned the use of violence against women and girls in Sudan. They urgently called for an immediate halt to the violence.
The member states expressed their profound concern about the dire situation of women and girls in Sudan, strongly denouncing the use of sexual and gender-based violence amidst the ongoing hostilities.
The Council members emphasized the necessity of holding the perpetrators accountable and insisted that all parties involved in the conflict bear full responsibility. It was also underscored that survivors must receive the requisite support and that women should participate in all aspects of peace processes and decision-making.
Sudden Departure of Key UN Envoy
In related news, Volker Perthes, the special UN envoy to Sudan, announced his resignation from his position. This comes just three months after Sudan declared him persona non grata, following the escalation of disputes between two rival factions into full-blown conflict. During his tenure, Perthes mentioned on Wednesday to the Security Council, “I am grateful to the Secretary-General for granting me this opportunity and for his trust in me, but I asked him to relieve me of this duty.”
Perthes made it clear that there’s no ambiguity over who bears responsibility in the conflict, stating, “Often those with air power, notably the Sudanese military, carry out indiscriminate airstrikes. The majority of sexual violence, looting, and killings occur in areas controlled by the Rapid Support Forces, either perpetrated by them, their allies, or with their acquiescence.”
He also pointed out that both sides have been detaining, holding, and even torturing civilians. Reports have also emerged about extrajudicial executions.
Sudan’s Sovereign Council President Meets Turkish Counterpart
Abdelfattah Al-Burhan, the president of Sudan’s Sovereign Council, was in Ankara on Wednesday for his fifth foreign trip, where he met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at the Turkish Presidential Complex.
While the meeting was held privately and no official statement was released detailing their discussions, a statement from the Sovereign Council suggested the discussions revolved around the trajectory of bilateral relations between the two countries and ways to enhance them.
Escalating Violence and Natural Disasters in Sudan
Meanwhile, at least forty people were killed on Wednesday in the city of Nyala, the capital of South Darfur state, due to airstrikes by the military that targeted popular markets and residential areas. This comes amidst ongoing battles between the military and the Rapid Support Forces, according to eyewitnesses and medical sources.
On another note, approximately 50 homes completely collapsed the night before in the “Qadow” region of Nile State in the north of the country, due to heavy rainfall.
The state’s civil defense announced that the rains also caused the deaths of four individuals in Atira and Al-Damer cities. Rising river levels in the seasonal Dinder River in Sennar state, southeast of the country, now threaten agricultural lands and homes.
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