Statement by Deputy Permanent Representative Anna Evstigneeva at UNSC briefing on the situation in Sudan
Mme.President,
We thank Permanent Representative of the Republic of Korea, Chair of 1591 Committee, for the briefing and the leadership of this subsidiary body of the Security Council.
The situation in Sudan remains complex. The intense fighting since April 2023 has resulted in numerous casualties, including among the civilian population. A humanitarian disaster has erupted.
According to UN OCHA, over 13,000 people have died during the conflict. Almost 10.7 million Sudanese have been forced to leave their homes. Half of the country's population is in need of humanitarian assistance. The country certainly needs the assistance of the international community.
At the same time, we are not inclined to overdramatize the humanitarian situation or use it as a lever to exert pressure on the Sudanese. We recall that on March 5 the country's authorities decided to resume the delivery of humanitarian aid through a number of border crossings with Chad, South Sudan and Egypt, as well as through some Sudanese airports. Moreover, according to the UN country team, Port Sudan approved the passage of 60 truckloads of humanitarian aid through the RSF-controlled Adre checkpoint on the Sudanese-Chadian border at El Geneina (on March 17). Let me recall that previously OCHA warned that the situation in that town was very dire. We are confident that this is not a one-off move. The Sudanese authorities have consistently demonstrated their readiness to cooperate in resolving humanitarian issues. Russia fully welcomes that attitude of Port Sudan and calls on other Council members to express their unconditional support.
Mme.President,
We support the efforts of Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for Sudan, Ramtane Lamamra, aimed at achieving peace and stability in Sudan as soon as possible. We hope that he will be able to restore the reputation of the United Nations in the eyes of the Sudanese after the unscrupulous and biased activities of the former leadership of the United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan.
We advocate a prompt cessation of armed confrontation and the establishment of an inclusive inter-Sudanese dialogue with the participation of all influential political forces and ethno-confessional groups.
Any destructive external interference in the affairs of our friendly Sudan is unacceptable. We are convinced that the Sudanese people can and must resolve internal problems on their own. Impose dubious socio-economic recipes and universal "democratizer" templates from the outside is unacceptable and counterproductive.
In practical terms, UNSC sanctions did not do much to normalize the situation in the Darfur region, to which weapons have continued to flow illegally. We are convinced that any new restrictions imposed by the Security Council, including the possible extension of the sanctions regime beyond Darfur, will not help bring peace any closer. Nor do we support the illegal unilateral restrictive measures that Western countries apply in order to reshape the Sudanese political landscape.
Thank you.
