Sudan: Local ceasefires must be put in place without delay [fr]

Madam President,

I would like to thank the Secretary General of the United Nations and Ms. Eltigani for their briefings.

For several months now, we have been facing the same reality in Sudan: the situation is catastrophic and continues to deteriorate. Mr. Secretary-General, your report published this month once again paints a disastrous picture: clashes have resulted in the world’s biggest internal displacement crisis, to which must be added a food crisis and a sanitary crisis, also weighing on neighboring countries. Civilians, including women and children, continue to be targeted. In this respect, France strongly condemns the recent attacks perpetrated against civilians by the Rapid Support Forces in the Gezirah.

We must not accept this situation. As the Secretary-General emphasizes in his report, local ceasefires must be put in place without delay in the areas most affected by the conflict. More generally, as he also stresses in his report, a comprehensive ceasefire must be agreed, accompanied by an inclusive political process involving civil society, particularly Sudanese women and young people, to address the root causes of the conflict. Only dialogue can lead to a solution for Sudan. As we did at the Paris Conference last April and on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly High-Level Week, France will continue its efforts to support regional and international diplomatic initiatives aimed at facilitating such dialogue. In this respect, I would like to commend the work of the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy, Mr. Lamamra.

In the face of the humanitarian emergency, it is urgent to implement a number of measures:

First of all, as requested by resolution 2736 adopted on June 13, it is imperative to lift the siege of El Fasher and cease fighting in the area. All parties to the conflict must ensure the protection of civilians and respect their obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law.

The full, safe and unimpeded delivery of cross-border and cross-line humanitarian aid throughout Sudan is necessary to help the Sudanese population. In this respect, France welcomes the Sudanese authorities’ decision to approve the conduct of cross-border humanitarian operations from Chad to Darfur via the city of Adré. This decision must be made permanent.

France calls on all member states to refrain from arming, financing and providing logistical support to parties to the conflict, in line with the commitments made in the Declaration of Principles adopted at the Paris Conference in April 2024. France welcomes the unanimous renewal of the arms embargo in Darfur last September, and underlines that those who violate it are liable to sanctions, in accordance with Security Council Resolution 1591.

Madam President,

The Secretary-General’s report highlights the crucial issue of protecting civilians in Sudan. France recalls that both parties have made commitments contained in the Jeddah Declaration, which are not being respected. We call on the parties to comply with these commitments, and to jointly establish a mechanism for verifying and monitoring their commitments, which regional and international partners can support.

Given the seriousness of the situation, we must do everything we can to support the Sudanese civilian population, using all the tools at our disposal, in conjunction with our regional partners, and in particular the African Union.

Thank you.