Sudan War Summit Urges Calm, UN Reports Mass Grave in Darfur
A summit held in Cairo, Egypt, brought together African leaders from Sudan’s neighboring countries in an effort to end the ongoing conflict in Sudan. The meeting took place as reports emerged of a mass grave discovered in Sudan’s Darfur region.
Despite the diplomatic discussions, violence continued to escalate in the Sudanese capital of Khartoum, with residents reporting gun battles, explosions, and fighter jets overhead. The conflict between rival factions within Sudan’s army and paramilitary forces has already resulted in the deaths of at least 3,000 people, while millions have been displaced from their homes.
The summit was attended by leaders from Egypt, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Chad, South Sudan, Central African Republic, and Libya, as well as representatives from the African Union and Arab League. The discussion focused on both the internal conflict within Sudan and the wider regional implications of the crisis.
The United Nations has warned that the situation in Sudan has the potential to escalate into a full-scale civil war, which could destabilize the entire region. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi praised the efforts of Sudan’s neighboring countries in welcoming refugees, despite the limited resources available to them.
The summit called on both factions involved in the conflict to ensure safe corridors for the delivery of urgently needed aid to the affected regions. The humanitarian crisis in Sudan has deepened, with reports of people queuing for drinking water and widespread electricity blackouts.
Since the conflict began in mid-April, nearly 724,000 people have fled Sudan, seeking refuge in neighboring countries. Chad alone has received more than 150,000 refugees in just one week, with the majority being women and children. The International Organization for Migration has reported that 240,000 people have escaped to Chad from Sudan’s Darfur region, which has been heavily affected by the violence.
The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) also released new evidence of atrocities committed in Darfur. The OHCHR reported that at least 87 people, including women and children, were allegedly killed by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and its allies between June 13-21. The bodies were buried in a mass grave in the capital of West Darfur, El Geneina, near the Chad border.
Sudan’s neighbors, already facing their own economic and political challenges, have expressed concern about the spillover effects of the conflict. President al-Sisi highlighted that more than 250,000 Sudanese refugees have sought shelter in Egypt, joining the five million Sudanese already residing there.
Human Rights Watch has raised further concerns about the dire humanitarian conditions faced by thousands of Sudanese refugees stranded on the border. The organization has called on Egypt to ease its entry visa rules to allow for easier access and aid.
Central African Republic President Faustin-Archange Touadera warned of severe shortages in food and fuel, describing an impending humanitarian disaster. He also highlighted the growing issue of small arms smuggling across the Sudan-Central African Republic border.
The Cairo summit follows numerous attempts to broker peace in Sudan, including failed ceasefires. The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) held talks earlier this week, urging both warring parties to sign an unconditional ceasefire. However, Sudan’s army boycotted the meeting due to objections over Kenya’s leadership role.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed called for diplomatic efforts to align with the IGAD-African Union process, while African Union Commission head Moussa Faki Mahamat emphasized the importance of a political process free from foreign interference.
The ongoing conflict in Sudan continues to pose significant challenges, both within the country and for its neighboring nations. The international community must redouble its efforts to bring an end to the violence and provide much-needed humanitarian assistance to those affected by the crisis.
