The United Kingdom and E4+deliver a joint statement on the
situation in El Obeid, Sudan.
"We, the Foreign Ministers of like-minded partners (France,
Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, UK), are deeply
concerned by reports of a continued assault on El Obeid, despite
calls for a halt to the attack and protection of
civilians.
Last year, the world witnessed with horror the
atrocities in El Fasher - crimes that are
assessed to bear the hallmarks of genocide. We must not
allow such failures to be repeated.
In recent weeks, repeated drone strikes on El Obeid have killed
civilians and driven acute shortages of fuel, food and
water. With the rainy season fast approaching, humanitarian
workers continue to provide life-saving assistance but
are being deliberately targeted.
There are now credible signs of an imminent offensive. This is a
critical moment, and the international community must
act.
We call on the RSF to halt its attack immediately. Civilians
must be able to leave safely, and all parties must ensure
rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian
access. The RSF and the SAF, and their
allies, must de-escalate, uphold international humanitarian
law, and honour their commitments under the Jeddah
Declaration.
External support continues to sustain this
conflict. We call on those fuelling the conflict to
cease, and those with influence must exercise it now to avoid
further bloodshed.
We will continue to work closely at the UN Security Council and
with regional and international partners to secure a clear and
unified response: the violence must end, civilians must be
protected, and those responsible must be held to account. We
remain committed to supporting a credible path to peace through
the Quintet-led process and call on all parties to engage in good
faith."
