New York - Khartoum: Europe and the Arabs
A UN official said before the UN Security Council that the time has come for the warring parties in Sudan to realize the futility of continuing fighting and give priority to dialogue and stopping escalation. She stressed the need for the international community to renew its commitment to revitalizing peace efforts in the country. According to what was stated in the daily United Nations news bulletin, a copy of which we received on Friday morning
The Assistant Secretary-General for African Affairs, Martha Ama Akiya Bobi, briefed the Council, yesterday, Thursday, on the Secretary-General’s report on the situation in Sudan and the activities of the United Nations Integrated Assistance Mission in the Transitional Period (UNITAMS).
UNITAMS mission review
During the session, the Assistant Secretary announced that the Secretary-General had initiated a strategic review of UNITAMS with the aim of providing the Security Council with options on how to adapt the Mission’s mandate to better fit the current context.
She explained that the review will help ensure that the mission's goals and priorities appropriately reflect the needs of the Sudanese people, and support Sudan on its path towards peace, stability, and restoration of civil transition.
Martha Poppe said that the Secretary-General had appointed Mr. Ian Martin to lead the strategic review.

Jeddah platform
The UN official welcomed the resumption of talks in Jeddah on October 29, jointly facilitated by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States and with the positive participation of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD).
She described the Statement of Commitments adopted by the parties in Jeddah on November 7 as an important first step towards meeting the needs of the Sudanese people.
She welcomed the launch of the Sudan Humanitarian Forum on November 13, expressing hope that it would facilitate the implementation of the humanitarian commitments made in Jeddah.

“Actions that do not reflect statements”
Although both parties announced their willingness to negotiate a ceasefire, their actions on the ground indicate the opposite, according to the UN official.
She noted that the Rapid Support Forces had achieved "significant military gains" in recent weeks, and were able to control the Sudanese Armed Forces bases in the cities of Nyala, Zalingei, and El Geneina.
She said that the Rapid Support Forces appear ready to advance towards El Fasher in North Darfur, with the aim of expanding their control over all strategic locations in Darfur.
Ms. Bobi warned that the RSF attack on El Fasher or its surrounding areas could lead to large numbers of civilian casualties, due to the large number of displaced people there.

The largest displacement crisis in the world
According to Ms. Martha Poppe, Sudan faces a worsening humanitarian catastrophe and catastrophic human rights crisis, with more than 6,000 civilians, including women and children, killed since fighting broke out in April.
Sudan is currently witnessing the largest displacement crisis in the world, with 7.1 million people displaced. The health situation also remains very worrying.
The Assistant Secretary-General drew attention to the fact that civilians continue to face serious human rights violations, including sexual and gender-based violence.
Warring parties have reportedly launched indiscriminate attacks, some of them targeted, against civilians, in clear violation of international humanitarian law, while restrictions on civilian space and livelihood activities continue.
At the same time, those fleeing to Chad from West Darfur reported a new surge in ethnically motivated violence directed towards members of the Masalit tribe.
Reliable reports indicate that Arab militias loyal to the Rapid Support Forces committed serious human rights violations between 4 and 6 November, especially in the Ardamta neighborhood of El Geneina.
The Assistant Secretary-General said that the UNITAMS mission is working to verify these reports, as well as reports that the Masalit militia carried out targeted acts of violence against members of the Arab community in El Geneina, threatening bouts of violence.