Sudan: 'Worse to Come if We Don't Act' - Security Council Briefing | United Nations

Briefing by Rosemary DiCarlo, Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, on reports of the Secretary-General on the Sudan and South Sudan. "The window to avert a wider escalation in El Obeid is rapidly narrowing," said Rosemary DiCarlo, Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs. DiCarlo said, “Last week, the Secretary-General warned of the catastrophic consequences for civilians should the fighting in El Obeid intensify further. Over the past two weeks, drone attacks by both parties in the area have increased significantly, while the Rapid Support Forces have expanded their presence around the city.” DiCarlo said the fighting was not confined to one city. “Beyond El Obeid, fighting in Sudan continues on multiple fronts. The wider Kordofan region remains the epicentre of the conflict, with intensified fighting taking place around Dilling, Kadugli and Babanusa as both parties continue to contest key strategic areas,” she said. She also said, “The parties could not sustain this pace of fighting without the sophisticated weaponry they obtain through external support. We renew our urgent call on all external actors to use their influence to help end this war, rather than be complicit in it.” DiCarlo warned, “There are clear warning signs of worse things to come if we don't act. Sudan's escalating conflict is unfolding amid rising tensions between Sudan and neighbouring states.” DiCarlo added that a political settlement hinges on clarity over what comes next. “At the same time, it has become clear that knowing what Sudan's political future looks like is key for the parties and their allies to agree to stop fighting. They want a road map for what happens the day after they agree to lay down their weapons,” she said. She stressed the role of regional and international mediators. “Central to progress on the political front is the strong partnership among the Quintet members – the African Union, the European Union, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, the League of Arab States and the United Nations,” DiCarlo said, before turning to the Council itself: “We welcome the recent Council press statement on El Obeid. Your words and your actions matter. We call on you to do more.”