UN Secretary-General António Guterres has issued a stark warning over the rapidly worsening conflict in Sudan, urging all warring parties to immediately halt hostilities and return to negotiations.
Speaking on the sidelines of the World Summit for Social Development in Doha, Guterres said the situation was “spiralling out of control” following the takeover of the strategic city of El-Fasher by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) after an 18-month siege.
“The horrifying crisis in Sudan is escalating beyond measure,” the UN chief said. “I call on all sides to come to the negotiating table and bring an end to this nightmare of violence — now.”
Reports emerging from El-Fasher detail harrowing scenes, including summary executions, sexual violence, widespread looting, attacks on humanitarian workers, and abductions, as communication networks in the area remain largely cut off.
“El-Fasher and surrounding communities in North Darfur have long been an epicentre of suffering, hunger, displacement and violence,” Guterres noted. “Since the RSF seized the city, conditions are deteriorating by the day.
Hundreds of thousands of civilians are trapped, with people dying from malnutrition, disease and relentless fighting.”
He warned that violations of international humanitarian and human rights law continue to mount, deepening the crisis and threatening regional stability.
Guterres also raised concerns about renewed clashes in Gaza, cautioning against any breach of the ceasefire that paused two years of fighting in the Palestinian territory.
His comments came after Hamas reported fresh Israeli airstrikes, following Israel’s announcement that three bodies retrieved from Gaza were not those of hostages.
Earlier strikes on October 19 and October 22 reportedly killed more than 145 people, according to Gaza’s civil defence agency.
“I am deeply concerned about continued violations of the ceasefire in Gaza,” Guterres said. “They must stop, and all parties must fully comply with the commitments outlined in the first phase of the peace agreement.”
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