Sudanese Civilian Forces Call on Security Council for Immediate Truce and Comprehensive Arms Embargo

Sudanese civilian forces opposed to the war and unaffiliated with either side of the conflict have called on the United Nations Secretary-General and members of the UN Security Council to take urgent international action to establish an immediate and comprehensive humanitarian truce, protect civilians, and ensure the delivery of humanitarian assistance.

The appeal comes as the Security Council continues discussions over whether to expand the existing arms embargo, currently focused on Darfur, to cover the entire territory of Sudan. On September 11, the Council unanimously extended the existing sanctions regime for one month while negotiations continued over possible changes.

In a letter sent to the UN Secretary-General and Security Council members, the civilian forces said that “the continuation of the war and the resulting humanitarian deterioration require more effective international intervention to halt the fighting and open safe corridors for humanitarian assistance, paving the way for a process leading to a permanent ceasefire and a comprehensive political settlement.”

The letter called on the Security Council to take urgent measures to halt external interference in the Sudanese war, including extending the arms embargo imposed on Darfur to cover the whole of Sudan and holding parties and individuals involved in violations against civilians accountable. The proposal to expand the embargo nationwide has also been under discussion at the Security Council, amid disagreement among member states over its scope.

The civilian forces called for support for an inclusive Sudanese peace process that, according to the letter, would exclude the National Congress Party and the Islamic Movement and their affiliated entities, on the grounds that they should not be part of the country’s future political process. The process, they said, should instead provide space for other Sudanese political and social forces and components to participate in shaping the country’s future.

They stressed that the ultimate objective of the political process should be a transition to democratic civilian rule, emphasizing that any settlement aimed at ending the war should not become a means of reproducing political power through military force or a de facto authority.

The civilian forces also called on international institutions not to confer legitimacy on any existing authority in Sudan and to reject recognition of any authority they described as having come to power through a coup or through the use of force.