The Quintet Calls for De-escalation in Sudan

Djibouti – Sudanhorizon
The African Union, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the League of Arab States, the European Union, and the United Nations have reaffirmed their commitment to the sovereignty, unity, independence, and territorial integrity of Sudan, stressing that continued escalation threatens to undermine the protection of civilians and national infrastructure.
In a joint statement issued Wednesday, the five international organizations expressed their deep concern over the continued escalation of the conflict in Sudan, calling for an immediate halt to any further military escalation, including the use of increasingly destructive weapons that are causing grave harm to civilians.
The statement noted that the international community is deeply concerned about the rapidly deteriorating situation facing civilians in the Kordofan region and Blue Nile State. Reports of deadly drone strikes, tightened sieges around population centers, attacks targeting vital civilian infrastructure—including hospitals and schools—forced displacement, severe restrictions on humanitarian access, and threats to key supply routes underscore the urgent need for immediate action to prevent further atrocities.
The Quintet condemned the horrors witnessed in El Fasher—referring to the Rapid Support Forces militia’s actions against civilians—and the repeated warnings that preceded these atrocities but were ignored, resulting in dire consequences. The group stressed that civilians should no longer bear the brunt of the ongoing hostilities.

The group affirmed that the protection of civilians, civilian infrastructure, and national infrastructure is a fundamental obligation under international law, and that international humanitarian law applies to all parties involved in hostilities.
The statement read: “Civilians and civilian infrastructure must be protected, and safe, rapid, and unimpeded humanitarian access must be ensured. Grave violations of international humanitarian law cannot be tolerated, and those responsible must be held accountable.”
The five-member committee also stressed the need for coordinated and effective collective efforts, including by the most influential actors, to de-escalate the conflict, create conditions conducive to the protection of civilians, and halt the flow of weapons, fighters, and other forms of support that fuel the violence and contribute to the fragmentation of Sudan.
The group urged leveraging the approaching month of Ramadan and seizing the opportunity presented by current efforts to broker an immediate humanitarian truce and de-escalation, to prevent further loss of life and enable the delivery of life-saving aid.
It clarified that these efforts should be undertaken within a clear framework consistent with international law and relevant Security Council resolutions, including Resolution 2736, emphasizing that such a truce could constitute a significant step towards a broader cessation of hostilities.

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