A UN official reported to the Security Council that each passing day brings shocking levels of violence and destruction in Sudan, leaving civilians to endure “immense suffering with no end in sight.”
Khaled Khiari, UN Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East and Asia-Pacific, noted that the conflict has recently concentrated in the Kordofan region. He highlighted reports of Sudanese Armed Forces withdrawing from Babanusa and Heglig to South Sudan and South Sudanese forces entering Sudan to protect oil infrastructure.
Khiari warned that these developments reflect the growing complexity and regional dimensions of the conflict, which, if left unaddressed, could involve Sudan’s neighbors in a wider regional conflict.
He also noted the alarming increase in drone strikes by both sides, causing significant civilian casualties, and the continued flow of sophisticated weapons as a key driver of the conflict, adding that calls to halt these flows have been ignored.
Khiari emphasized the need for a rapid, coordinated response to prevent further deterioration, maintain Sudan’s unity, and protect its territory. Efforts are ongoing to support a comprehensive Sudanese dialogue led by the African Union to enable a credible civilian-led political transition.
