Discurso do Representante Permanente, Embaixador Sérgio França Danese, em reunião do Conselho de Segurança sobre a Situação no Sudão e Sudão do Sul - 13 de setembro de 2023 (texto em inglês)

Statement by the Permanent Representative, Ambassador Sérgio França Danese, on the Situation in Sudan and South Sudan
September 13th, 2023

Mister President,

I thank Ambassador Agyeman for his 1591 Committee briefing. I thank also Special Representative Perthes, Director Wosornu of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and Ms. Adil for their comprehensive and compelling presentations. I strongly commend and thank Mr. Perthes for his tireless work in the Sudan on behalf of the United Nations.

The fighting in the Sudan has gone on for far too long. The parties must immediately withdraw their forces from civilian areas, cease hostilities and engage in good-faith negotiations. A political solution to the conflict that fully respects the Sudan’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity is the only pathway to a peaceful transition in the Sudan and is also key to stability in the region.

We commend the efforts by the United Nations, the work done by the United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in the Sudan (UNITAMS) and the leadership displayed by the African Union and its Peace and Security Council. We support the continued engagement of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development and the League of Arab States, the initiatives led by the Heads of State and Ministers of Sudan’s neighbouring States, as well as other efforts aimed at resolving the conflict peacefully. We stress the importance of coordination among the peace initiatives. The Security Council must provide its timely and effective support for such efforts.

The conflict in the Sudan continues to cause widespread death, injury and displacement. The humanitarian situation is nothing but catastrophic, with millions of women, men, girls and boys in need of food, water, shelter and medical care. Civilians face dire conditions in Khartoum, Omdurman, Nyala, El Geneina and other urban centres and rural areas. As we heard in the joint press stakeout earlier, women and girls continue to be the object of horrific acts of sexual abuse and aggression. The mounting inter-ethnic clashes throughout Darfur, and the tribal mobilization in Kordofan, are especially disturbing. Those responsible for violations of human rights and humanitarian law must be held accountable and brought to justice. The conflict is also devastating the country’s infrastructure, and its impact on the Sudan’s economy is already severe, causing a number of serious social implications.

The people of the Sudan deserve a future of peace, progress and dignity. We urge all the parties to the conflict to face up to their responsibilities to the Sudanese population and begin the complex task of building a political transition. We also call on the Council to fulfil its responsibilities and step up its efforts towards finding a solution to the current crisis in the Sudan.

Thank you.