UN alarmed as fighting escalates in Sudan

January 25, 2025 (PORT SUDAN) – The United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres has expressed concerns over the recent escalation of fighting in Sudan, calling for genuine dialogue to end the conflict.

Ramtane Lamamra, the Secretary General’s Personal Envoy for Sudan, said the latter was especially concerned about the situation in Darfur and around the al-Jili oil refinery located north of Khartoum.

“The Secretary-General urges the parties to refrain from all actions that could have dangerous consequences for Sudan and the region, including serious economic and environmental implications,” he said in statement.

The envoy also reminded the parties of their obligations under international law, including in relation to the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure and the facilitation of humanitarian access.

“Sudanese women, children and men are paying the price for the continued military offensives by the belligerents,” he stressed.

Lamamra called an immediate cessation of hostilities to save lives among Sudanese civilians, emphasizing that a sustainable end to the conflict can only be achieved through an inclusive political process.

The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese military began fighting each other in April 2023. Their conflict has reportedly killed more than 28,000 people, forced millions to flee their homes and left some families eating grass in a desperate attempt to survive as famine sweeps parts of the country

(ST)