The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, has appealed for an immediate end to the hostilities in Sudan and called for the warring factions to return to the negotiating table.
The country has been rocked by intense fighting between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group. The violence erupted just as Sudan seemed to be on a path towards democratic transition, following three decades of military rule.
Despite reports of a proposed 24-hour ceasefire, fighting has continued in parts of the capital Khartoum. The unrest has resulted in the deaths of 270 people, and 2,700 others have been injured.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has cited the authorities as reporting these figures. The UN rights chief has urged both sides to ensure the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure, including schools and hospitals. Hospitals in the capital have reported shortages of medical personnel and lifesaving supplies.
There are also reports of some health facilities being looted and others being used for military purposes. Humanitarian agencies and partners have called for an immediate end to hostilities to allow medical workers and ambulances to deliver assistance to the wounded.
The UN has underscored the critical importance of helping all those in need, but insecurity has forced the interruption of humanitarian operations in many states.
Sudan has a history of instability, with a military coup in 1989 leading to a 30-year period of authoritarian rule under former President Omar al-Bashir. In April 2019, al-Bashir was ousted from power following mass protests, and a transitional government was established. However, in October 2021, the military overthrew the power-sharing government, claiming that it had failed to address the country’s economic problems. The head of the army and his deputy, who is also the head of the RSF, were then put in charge, but they were at odds over the process of restoring civilian rule. This led to intense fighting between the Sudanese army and the RSF, which erupted in April 2023.
