A top United Nations (UN )official has told the Security Council that "certain allies of the parties are enabling the slaughter in Sudan" as they again pressed for an immediate ceasefire in the over 18 month war.  

The Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, Rosemary Di Carlo, warned that the actions of external parties, including the steady flow of weapons into the country was unconscionable, illegal and that it had to end.  

This comes as the Council began discussing a United Kingdom and Sierra Leone-drafted resolution that demands that the warring parties immediately cease hostilities and engage in dialogue to agree de-escalation measures with the aim of urgently supporting a national ceasefire.  

“Let me stress that both warring parties bear responsibility for this violence. The people of Sudan need an immediate ceasefire, an end to the fighting is the most effective way of protecting civilians. It is a long past time for the warring parties to come to the negotiating table. The only path out of this conflict is a negotiated political solution. However, both the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF seem convinced they can prevail on the battlefield,” said Di Carlo.  

Meanwhile Namart Ahmadi of the Darfur Women Action Group made an impassioned appeal to the Council to deploy peacekeeping forces to a country, a move unlikely in the short term, as diplomats indicated the conditions did not currently exist for the deployment of a UN force.

“The situation has become unbearable for the people of Sudan, but they have no option. I ask you to think for a second outside of politics about those dying in silence. They are people, they are not numbers. They are mothers, wives, daughters, brothers, sisters and uncles and innocent children. I want you to think of how it feels to be in my shoes, let alone have the courage to stand up and speak out every day and see the snow and inside,” said Ahmadi.

As the Council now negotiates a proposed ceasefire resolution, the draft text seen by South Africa Broadcasting Corporation news demands an immediate halt to fighting throughout Sudan and further demands that the parties to the conflict honour their pledges made in the Jeddah declaration of commitment to protect the civilians of Sudan.  

--SABC/ChannelAfrica