Sudan: Closed Consultations
Tomorrow morning (31 January), Security Council members will convene for closed consultations on Sudan, at the request of Denmark and the UK (the penholder on the file). Assistant Secretary-General for Africa in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations (DPPA-DPO) Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee and Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Tom Fletcher are expected to brief.
Pobee is likely to provide an overview of the deteriorating security situation in Sudan. In recent weeks, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) have made significant military gains, reclaiming key strategic locations from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a Sudanese paramilitary group. On 11 January, the SAF recaptured Wad Madani, the capital of Al Jazira state, a strategically important city south of Khartoum, positioned at the crossroads of key supply routes connecting multiple states. On 24 January, the SAF announced the lifting of a monthslong siege on their general command headquarters in central Khartoum. Additionally, they regained control of the Al-Jaili oil refinery in the city of Bahri in Khartoum state, which had been under the RSF’s control from early on in the conflict, that started on 15 April 2023. In the preceding days, the SAF reportedly continued their advance in central and southern Bahri, further consolidating their position. These operations are part of the SAF’s broader military offensive, launched on 26 September 2024, aimed at reclaiming major cities—including Khartoum, Omdurman, Bahri—and areas east of the Nile as well as disrupting the RSF’s supply lines. Earlier today (30 January), media reports indicated that the SAF also recaptured the strategic city of Um Rawaba in North Kordofan state.
The fighting has been accompanied by reports of mass civilian casualties, including revenge killings and torture as well as the targeting of individuals based on alleged affiliation or ethnicity. Following the capture of Wad Madani, media reports indicated that the SAF and allied forces committed widespread violations against civilians, including torture, extrajudicial killings, and destruction of property across several areas in Al Jazira. The SAF condemned these incidents as “individual violations”. There are also reports that the RSF has carried out attacks on villages in the south and east of Al Jazira, resulting in the deaths of at least 21 civilians.
Tomorrow, the briefers and several Council members are expected to condemn the ongoing violence across Sudan. They may reiterate calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities and urge the warring parties to engage in dialogue for a sustainable resolution of the conflict. Some may also express frustration over the continued disregard by the warring parties of calls by the international community to halt the fighting.
Speakers may stress the urgent need to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, including healthcare facilities, as well as medical and humanitarian personnel, while condemning the incidents of deliberate targeting of these individuals and facilities. In this context, they are likely to highlight the 24 January RSF attack on the Saudi Teaching Maternal Hospital in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur state, which killed at least 70 patients receiving critical care and their relatives, including four children, and wounded dozens more. Across Sudan, more than 70 percent of hospitals in the areas that are witnessing hostilities remain non-operational, including due to destruction and damage. Several members are likely to underline the need to ensure accountability and justice for victims of violence. They may also call on the warring parties to uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law and adhere to the commitments outlined in the 11 May 2023 Jeddah Declaration.
The security situation in El Fasher remains extremely dire, as the city has been under siege by the RSF and allied Arab militias since May 2024. Last week, the RSF launched a large-scale, multi-directional assault, deploying a significant number of military vehicles. This offensive followed a 48-hour ultimatum issued by the RSF demanding the withdrawal of SAF-allied forces, which signalled an impending escalation. Media reports indicate that the SAF and its allied forces repelled the attack, with SAF airstrikes targeting RSF positions on the city’s outskirts. However, hostilities reportedly intensified yesterday (29 January), heightening concerns over the safety of civilians trapped in the conflict zone.
Pobee might provide an update on recent efforts to bring an end to the conflict. In recent weeks, Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General for Sudan Ramtane Lamamra has held a series of consultations with a broad range of civilian stakeholders to advance peace efforts. Lamamra visited Port Sudan between 22 and 24 December 2024, where he met with senior Sudanese officials, including General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the SAF’s leader, to discuss UN-led peace efforts. During his visit, he also engaged with several senior diplomats from various countries to discuss regional and international support for the peace process. On 25 December 2024, Lamamra travelled to Addis Ababa, where he met with a delegation from the RSF. The discussions focused on implementing the recommendations contained in the Secretary-General’s 21 October 2024 report on the protection of civilians in Sudan. Tomorrow, some members might seek more information about Lamamra’s recent engagement with the warring parties and an assessment of potential next steps. They may also highlight the importance of sustained international engagement on Sudan, including high-level discussions. In a 25 January press release, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy announced plans to convene a meeting of foreign ministers to mobilise international efforts towards ending the conflict.
Fletcher is expected to provide an update on the humanitarian situation in the country in light of the evolving security developments and describe efforts by the UN and its partners to deliver aid across Sudan. He and several Council members are likely to reiterate the critical need to ensure full, rapid, and sustained humanitarian access through all modalities and highlight impediments to such access. Some members may ask about the engagement of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) with the Sudanese authorities, particularly regarding the implementation of their commitments to opening humanitarian access routes and establishing humanitarian hubs.
Fletcher and several members may raise concerns over recent attacks on civilian infrastructure and their impact on civilians. A 22 January OCHA press release reported a series of drone attacks targeting critical infrastructure across northern, eastern, and central Sudan, which disrupted essential services. The attacks included strikes on the Um Dabakir power station near Kosti, a power station in Northern state that cut electricity and water to Dongola, and the Girba Dam hydroelectric facility in Kassala state, which left hospitals without power. Additional strikes targeted power stations in Gedaref and Sennar states. Recently, an attack on the Merowe Dam, Sudan’s largest dam, severely disrupted water and electricity supply in Khartoum, Northern, and River Nile states.
Council members are currently negotiating a UK-authored draft press statement, which, among other things, condemns the ongoing and escalating RSF assaults on El Fasher and the reported attack on the Saudi Teaching Maternal Hospital in the city. At press time, the draft text is open for comments until tomorrow morning.
In recent months, as mediation efforts have stalled, Council members have focused on the protection of civilians amid deteriorating security conditions. In November 2024, they considered a draft resolution co-authored by the UK and Sierra Leone, which aimed to strengthen civilian protection measures in Sudan. Russia vetoed the resolution, citing concerns over undermining Sudan’s sovereignty. Discussions on reviving these efforts may be still taking place quietly, but no concrete action has materialised thus far. Tomorrow, some members may emphasise the need to strengthen efforts to protect civilians.