Arab condemnations of “violations” by the Rapid Support Forces in El Fasher | news

On Tuesday, the Arab League, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia denounced the Rapid Support Forces committing “violations” during their attack on the city of El Fasher, western Sudan, while Egypt expressed its “deep concern about the recent developments in Sudan.”

The university said – in a statement – that it is “following with great concern the developments in the situation in El Fasher after the decision of the Sudanese Armed Forces to withdraw from it, and the UN and media reports circulating about horrific crimes committed against civilians stranded in the city of El Fasher.”

The League condemned in the “strongest terms” the crimes against innocent and defenseless civilians, calling for a complete cessation of hostilities in this city, which has been under siege by the Rapid Support Forces for more than two years.

She stressed that the current situation threatens the stability of Sudan, its territorial unity, and regional peace and stability, calling for the need to coordinate all efforts to activate positive pressures to put an end to the unprecedented acts of violence, and to work with full force to restore peace and stability in Sudan.

Qatar and Saudi Arabia

For its part, Qatar expressed its condemnation of the horrific violations that occurred during the Rapid Support Forces attacks on the city of El Fasher.

The Qatari Foreign Ministry expressed – in a statement – the State of Qatar’s “deep concern over the tragic humanitarian conditions in the city of El Fasher.”

It stressed the need for the Rapid Support Forces to carry out their duty to protect civilians, ensure secure access to humanitarian aid, and adhere to international humanitarian law, according to the text of the statement.

The Ministry also affirmed the position of the State of Qatar calling for resolving the armed conflict in Sudan through dialogue and peaceful means, reiterating its firm position in support of the unity, independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Sudan, and rejecting any form of interference in its internal affairs.

In turn, the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed “the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s deep concern and denunciation of the grave humanitarian violations that took place during the recent attacks by the Rapid Support Forces on the city of El Fasher.”

The Ministry stressed the need for the Rapid Support Forces to carry out their duty to protect civilians and ensure secure access to humanitarian aid.

Saudi Arabia has previously sponsored several negotiating rounds in the city of Jeddah, which failed to push the two warring parties in Sudan to reach a permanent ceasefire agreement.

Egyptian concern

On another level, Egypt called for “taking all possible measures to achieve an immediate humanitarian truce throughout Sudan,” stressing its “categorical rejection of any attempts to divide Sudan or disturb its unity and territorial integrity.”

Cairo expressed – according to a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs – its “deep concern about the recent developments in Sudan,” demanding that all possible measures be taken to achieve an immediate humanitarian truce throughout the country, leading to a permanent ceasefire, in a way that preserves the lives of civilians and their daily livelihoods and preserves the country’s capabilities.

In this regard, Egypt affirmed its continued provision of all possible support to brotherly Sudan to overcome its current ordeal, according to the text of the statement.

It is noteworthy that, for days, the Sudanese authorities and international and international organizations have accused the Rapid Support Forces of committing “massacres and humanitarian violations” against civilians in the city of El Fasher, including field executions, arrests, and displacement, during their storming of the city last Sunday.

Earlier Tuesday, the United Nations called on the Rapid Support Forces to allow a “safe passage” that would allow civilians to leave the city of El Fasher, while the joint force of armed movements supporting the Sudanese army in Darfur accused the Rapid Support of killing two thousand civilians in El Fasher during the days of October 26 and 27.

The Rapid Support Forces continued to deny the accusations against them, and said that they were “cleansing the city of El Fasher and eliminating the last pockets of the enemy (the army and the forces supporting it) during their attempts to flee the city.”

Since April 15, 2023, Sudan has witnessed a war between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces, which has left about 20,000 dead and more than 15 million displaced and refugees, according to international and local reports, while an American university study estimated the death toll at about 130,000.

During recent months, the head of the Sovereignty Council, Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, reiterated on more than one occasion that the army would not lay down arms before eliminating the Rapid Support Forces, welcoming dialogue to end the war on the condition that these forces do not participate in any future role in Sudan.