The Sudanese Crisis: Key Highlights from the Security Council Session

On Thursday, the United Nations Security Council held a ministerial session on Sudan, chaired by the United States. The session featured speeches from Sudan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Harith Idris, as well as Sultan Saad Bahr al-Din, the Sultan of the Massalit Tribe, alongside representatives from several countries and organizations.

In his speech, Sudan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Harith Idris, requested the United States to designate the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) as a terrorist group and urged the U.S. to pressure the UAE to stop weapon shipments to them. He stated that such a move could help end the ongoing war in Sudan.

Idris expressed his country’s appreciation for the U.S. efforts in humanitarian aid and in seeking a resolution to end the conflict. He praised the continuous “positive” support the U.S. has provided to Sudan. He also noted that U.S. humanitarian assistance exceeded $1 billion, pointing to the repeated condemnations by the U.S. State Department of the crimes and violations committed by the RSF.

He also mentioned that the United States had requested the RSF to lift the blockade on the city of El Fasher and highlighted efforts by Congress to criminalize the RSF and halt arms exports to the UAE. Idris emphasized the close cooperation between the U.S. and the Sudanese government through field visits and diplomatic efforts aimed at enhancing peace prospects and ending the crisis.

Sultan Saad Bahr al-Din, the leader of the Massalit Tribe, which has suffered massacres in Western Darfur at the hands of the RSF, also addressed the session. In his statement, the Sultan expressed condolences for the thousands of Massalit people killed in Geneina and Ardamata, as well as all Sudanese victims of the war.

Bahr al-Din described the Dar Massalit Sultanate as a model of cultural and social integration, home to diverse ethnic and tribal groups. He noted that the war reaching Dar Massalit led to a systematic and large-scale targeting of the tribe due to their ethnic identity, where the most horrific crimes, including genocide, were committed. He mentioned that Geneina, the capital of West Darfur, had been besieged for two months by RSF forces and their militias, resulting in nearly 10,000 deaths, tens of thousands of injuries, and the displacement of at least a million people who fled to Chad.

Bahr al-Din explained that the criminal acts against the Massalit included killings, rapes, burning people alive, and mutilating bodies in front of the world, including the body of the governor of the state, Khamis Abkar, who was from the Massalit tribe.

In light of this tragic situation, Sultan Bahr al-Din made several demands to the Security Council, including enhancing security in West Darfur, which is suffering from lawlessness due to the war and chaos left by the conflict. He also stressed the need for urgent humanitarian aid, including shelter, food, water, and medical care for the displaced and refugees in neighboring countries.

He called for impartial and fair criminal investigations into the violations committed against the Massalit tribe and other Sudanese citizens, urging the punishment of perpetrators and compensation for victims to ensure justice. Finally, he appealed for the warring parties to return to the negotiating table and resume the dialogue process to achieve a political solution for peace and stability.

During her briefing to the Security Council, Edem Sornou, Director of Operations at the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, described the Sudan crisis as “unprecedented in scale and severity.” She emphasized that the situation requires urgent and sustained attention from the international community.

Sornou highlighted the humanitarian disaster caused by the conflict, with over 12 million people displaced—about a quarter of Sudan’s population, including 3.2 million people who fled to neighboring countries, further straining already resource-limited areas.

She reaffirmed the efforts of the UN field team, led by Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher, who recently visited Sudan and Chad. She noted progress in opening humanitarian corridors and improving access, including extending permission to use the vital “Adri” border crossing with Chad.

Fletcher announced the immediate allocation of $5 million from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund to support local and international responders facing immense pressure to help Sudanese refugees in Chad. The World Food Program was also able to reach the Zamzam displaced persons camp in North Darfur last month, sending its first food convoy since famine conditions were declared in July.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who chaired the session, announced an additional $200 million in humanitarian aid for Sudan. He explained that the funding would be used to provide food, shelter, and healthcare, stressing the need for safe and rapid delivery of assistance. Blinken also reiterated the U.S.’s intent to use all available tools, including additional sanctions, to prevent violations and hold perpetrators accountable, urging other countries to take similar actions against those fueling the conflict.

He called on the Security Council to pressure the warring parties to stop fighting and protect civilians, while also urging external states supporting either side of the conflict with arms and resources to end their interventions.

Blinken underscored the importance of involving Sudanese civil society, especially women, in efforts to restore democratic civilian governance. He announced a $30 million allocation to support Sudanese civil society organizations and strengthen their participation in shaping the country’s future.

Turkey called for urgent international action to address the escalating humanitarian crisis and conflict in Sudan. Turkish Ambassador Ahmed Yildiz stressed the gravity of the humanitarian situation, pointing to the number of displaced persons, civilian deaths, and the destruction of vital infrastructure, including health facilities.

Yildiz reaffirmed Turkey’s commitment to Sudan’s unity, territorial integrity, and sovereignty, emphasizing the need to address the root causes of the conflict to end the fighting. He stated, “To help the Sudanese people, we must focus on addressing the underlying causes of the conflict, not just its symptoms.”

He reiterated Turkey’s strong support for the Sudanese people, urging the international community to intensify humanitarian efforts and mediation to end the crisis.

Algerian Ambassador to the UN, Ammar Benjamaa, spoke on behalf of the (A3+) group, which includes Algeria, Sierra Leone, Mozambique, and Ghana. He called for a strong and explicit condemnation of any external interference in Sudan, stressing the importance of engaging the warring parties in a Sudanese-led political process under UN guidance.

Benjamaa emphasized the need to put an end to foreign interventions, expressing concern over the worsening situation on the ground. He stated, “We cannot afford more innocent lives lost, more displacement, food insecurity, or destruction threatening the stability of the region.”

The Algerian diplomat underscored the importance of protecting civilians as the primary goal of any political process, pointing out the need for the Security Council to provide more support for regional and international diplomatic efforts. He also urged all parties to engage in mediation efforts with sincere intentions, emphasizing the need to facilitate humanitarian access to the most vulnerable, especially women and children.

Benjamaa praised positive steps announced by the Sudanese government, such as opening airports for humanitarian flights and establishing an air bridge to affected areas, as well as food assistance provided by the World Food Program to displaced camps in Zamzam. He urged the Sudanese government to continue these steps to alleviate the suffering of affected populations.

He concluded by emphasizing the need for a positive and constructive commitment from the Security Council to support peace efforts and prevent the conflict from spreading further in the region and the African continent.