The Quintet (the African Union, Intergovernmental Authority on Development, League of Arab States, European Union and the United Nations), on Wednesday, expressed grave concern at the continued escalation of the conflict in the Sudan.
According to a joint statement extended to Radio Tamazuj, the Quintet called for the immediate halting of any further military escalation, including the use of increasingly destructive means of warfare, which is inflicting devastating harm on civilians.
“The Quintet is particularly alarmed by the rapidly deteriorating situation facing civilians in the Kordofan region and Blue Nile State,” the statement reads in part. “Reports of deadly drone strikes, tightening sieges around population centers; attacks affecting critical civilian infrastructure, including hospitals, schools and humanitarian assets; forced displacement and severe constraints on humanitarian access, including threats to key supply corridors and attacks on humanitarian aid convoys, underscore the urgency of immediate action to prevent atrocities.”
“Recalling the horrors witnessed in El Fasher, and the repeated warnings issued ahead of those atrocities that went unheeded with devastating consequences for civilians, the Quintet insists that civilians must no longer bear the cost of ongoing hostilities,” the statement added.
The Quintet stressed that the protection of civilians, civilian premises, and critical national infrastructure is a fundamental obligation under international law, and emphasized that international humanitarian law applies to all those engaged in hostilities.
“Civilians and civilian infrastructure must be protected, international humanitarian law must be respected, and safe, rapid and unhindered humanitarian access to all areas in need must be ensured. Serious violations of international humanitarian law cannot go unaddressed,” the statement stressed. “Perpetrators must be held accountable.”
United in purpose, the Quintet emphasized the need for coordinated and effective collective efforts, including by those with the greatest influence, to de-escalate the conflict, restore conditions conducive to civilian protection, and halt the flow of weapons, fighters and other forms of support that sustain violence and contribute to the fragmentation of Sudan.
“As the holy month of Ramadan approaches, the Quintet strongly urges all concerned to seize the opportunity presented by ongoing efforts to broker a humanitarian truce and to immediately deescalate hostilities, to prevent further loss of life and enable life-saving assistance,” the statement said. “Such efforts should be pursued under clearly defined arrangements consistent with international law, international humanitarian law, existing commitments, and relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions, including resolution 2736 (13 June 2024). Such a humanitarian truce could serve as an important step toward a broader cessation of hostilities.”
The Quintet reaffirmed its commitment to the sovereignty, unity, independence and territorial integrity of Sudan, and underscores that continued escalation risks further undermining the protection of civilians and national infrastructure.
“Looking ahead, the Quintet remains committed to facilitating a Sudanese-owned, inclusive inter-Sudanese political dialogue aimed at ending the war and laying the foundations for a peaceful political transition,” the statement concluded.