A statement by G7 Foreign Ministers on El Obeid calling for the
immediate protection of civilians, unhindered humanitarian
access, and a cessation of hostilities in Sudan.
"We, the G7 Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy,
Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America, and
the High Representative of the European Union urge the Rapid
Support Forces and allied armed groups to immediately cease any
action likely to lead to further atrocities or endanger civilians
in El-Obeid, including drone strikes and impediments to
humanitarian access. Following the atrocities committed during
the Rapid Support Force's siege and attack on El Fasher, we
remain gravely concerned about alleged severe violations of
international humanitarian law and international human rights law
across Kordofan and Darfur regions, as well as Blue Nile in
Sudan.
We urge the Rapid Support Forces, as well as the Sudanese Armed
Forces and allied armed groups, to abide by their
obligations under the rules of international humanitarian law and
international human rights law, as applicable. Civilians must be
protected. We call on parties to the conflict to
guarantee safe voluntary passage, and
to facilitate rapid and unimpeded humanitarian
access into and around El-Obeid and throughout the
country.
We urge the Sudanese Armed Forces, the Rapid Support
Forces and allied armed groups
to immediately cease hostilities and to engage in
direct negotiations in good faith. We call for the Sudanese Armed
Forces to cease their repeated rejection of the
proposed de-escalation measures and for the Rapid Support
Forces to implement their commitments under the Jeddah
Declaration, which they have consistently failed to do so
far.
We support the efforts of the United Nations Secretary-General's
Personal Envoy, Mr. Pekka Haavisto, to advance de-escalation in
El-Obeid and support ongoing broader efforts by the Quad and the
Quintet to achieve a humanitarian truce, followed by a
permanent ceasefire and an independent, inclusive,
transparent and civilian-led political dialogue.
We are united in our determination to
promote accountability for all violations of
international humanitarian law and international human rights law
committed by all parties to the conflict.
We remain committed to supporting victims and
survivors, including through efforts to advance guarantees of
non-recurrence.
We call upon all external actors, as stated in the
Berlin principles, to cease providing, directly or
indirectly, armed, logistical, or financial support to the
parties to the conflict and to refrain from any action that could
exacerbate tensions and fuel the conflict. We call on the United
Nations Security Council to expand the arms embargo on Darfur
region to the entire Sudanese territory.
We reaffirm our unwavering commitment to Sudan's sovereignty,
unity and territorial integrity. We reject all unilateral
initiatives that risk leading to the country's partition and
remain committed to support the democratic aspirations of the
Sudanese people."
