U.N. Security Council to discuss Sudan crisis on Monday

October 27, 202 (NEW YORK) – The U.N. Security Council will hold an emergency meeting on Monday to address the escalating violence and humanitarian crisis in Sudan, with Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expected to condemn the fighting and urge immediate action to protect civilians.

Guterres and a civil society representative will brief the 15-member council, diplomats said, as concerns grow over the increasing number of casualties and reports of human rights abuses.

“The conflict, which erupted earlier this year, has plunged Sudan into chaos, leading to widespread displacement, human rights abuses and a devastating humanitarian crisis,” a U.N. spokesperson said.

On 18 October, the Secretary-General submitted a report detailing a sharp increase in inter-communal violence, human rights violations and attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, including healthcare facilities.

The report also calls for an immediate halt to the flow of weapons into Sudan and stresses the importance of supporting independent investigations into human rights abuses.

Guterres is expected to urge warring parties to intensify diplomacy, pursue local ceasefires and establish a mechanism to ensure compliance with a May declaration to protect civilians.

The possibility of deploying an African Union-led protection force is also expected to be discussed. While Guterres’s report acknowledges the calls for such a force, it notes that current conditions in Sudan are not conducive to the successful deployment of a U.N. peacekeeping mission.

However, the U.N. Secretariat has expressed readiness to engage with the council and relevant stakeholders on “operational modalities,” including localized efforts to reduce violence and protect civilians.

The meeting is expected to highlight the dire situation in Sudan and underscore the urgent need for the international community to take concrete action.