UN Security Council Briefing and Consultations on the situation in Sudan
Ambassador Harold Agyeman
Ghana’s Representative to the United Nations
New York, New York
April 25, 2023
A-3 JOINT STATEMENT GABON, GHANA AND MOZAMBIQUE THE SITUATION IN SUDAN
Mr. President,
I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of A3, namely Gabon, Mozambique, and my country Ghana.
At the outset, the A3 would like to align themselves with statements delivered by Amb. Fatima Kyari, on behalf of the AU Chairperson and H.E. Mr. Ismael Wais, IGAD Envoy to the Republic of South Sudan and Sudan and welcome the acceptance by the Sudanese parties of the 72 hours ceasefire which started last midnight, despite the tenuous state of the peace in the Sudan, particularly in Khartoum.
We would like to express appreciation to SRSG Volker Perthes, ASG Joyce Msuya, Amb. Fatima Kyari representing the AU Chair and H.E. Mr. Ismael Wais, the IGAD Envoy to the Republic of South Sudan and Sudan for their insightful briefings on the situation in Sudan.
We note the painstaking efforts that have been made by regional and international leaders to get the two sides to pause the fighting and encourage sustained and focused engagement with the parties to silence the guns in the Sudan. We also encourage the sustenance of the ceasefire announced yesterday and urge the two sides to engage in dialogue and to establish humanitarian corridors to ensure unhindered humanitarian access and protection for civilians caught up in the conflict.
In that regard, we note the cooperation of the parties in allowing the evacuation of the diplomatic staff of some Missions as well as staff of various International non-governmental organizations. We continue to consider it important to ensure the retention of minimum capacity to provide adequate and coordinated humanitarian assistance to all IDPs and refugees.
Mr. President,
As A3, we have been mindful of the full spectrum of the dynamics of the situation in Sudan and have asserted strong support for the regional-led approach to resolving the outbreak of the open armed confrontation between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). We call on all Council members and Sudan’s international partners to support a delicate approach, guided by the Swahili proverb that “running is not necessarily arriving”.
Since the outbreak of the conflict between the RSF and the SAF on 15th April 2023 the international community has maintained a unified position on the conflict. It is important that we work to maintain that unity of purpose and the coherence of our approach to assist the Sudanese people overcome this regrettable and very difficult moment of their nation’s history.
The cost of the present conflict in the Sudan has been high. It is reported that over 459 people have been killed and 3,700 being injured. We regret the loss of lives and commiserate with the families of the victims, including the families of the nine (9) children and the four UN personnel who have died. We wish the injured a speedy recovery and hope that the two sides would consider the toll of this conflict in their further decisions necessary to stabilize the Sudan.
Mr. President,
The A3 is particularly concerned with three (3) key issues.
The first, is that we need to maintain coherence and prioritize efforts towards the sustenance of the cessation of hostilities, a de-escalation of the situation, and the protection of civilians, including the injured, international officials, diplomatic agents, and foreign nationals. We call on all parties to resume the political process for sustainable peace in Sudan and in the region.
We are encouraged by the actions that the African Union, IGAD, the League of Arab States, and neighbouring and other States have made to keep this key objective in focus. We commend the concerted efforts for the achievement of the present ceasefire and the role the Secretary-General has played in support of the region’s engagement with the leaders in Sudan. We emphasize the importance of maintaining complementarity of actions if we are to be effective in resolving persisting concerns and the further efforts required toward a permanent cessation of hostilities.
The second issue of interest to the A3 is the need for a containment of the conflict and its abatement to prevent a widespread and long-drawn-out conflict. We, therefore, urge that the two sides in Sudan to cooperate with the processes for the implementation of the Communique of the Ministerial Special Session on Sudan, held on 20th April under the auspices of the African Union. We strongly appeal to all armed groups to avoid implicating themselves in the ongoing conflict, in support of the aspiration of the people of the country for a de-escalation of the situation.
We reiterate our collective rejection of any external interference in the ongoing conflict which would complicate the situation on the ground. Sudan should not be a place for clashes of international geopolitical interests. We emphasize that the continent can no longer tolerate such clashes and their consequences.
Lastly, the A3 is concerned with the implications of the present conflict on the security of the region. We welcome the very clear clarifications that have been issued by authorities and actors in neighbouring States to indicate their non-involvement and/or non-offensive conduct against the territorial integrity of the Sudan.
We encourage neighbouring States to continue to play a positive and constructive role for the stabilization of the Sudan and request international institutions to work with them as appropriate, in managing the effects of the conflict, including support in managing refugees such as the 20,000 refugees that have gone to Chad as a result of the situation, adding to the nearly 400,000 refugees that that country already is dealing with.
Mr. President,
Before concluding, let me underscore the A3’s resolve to continue to play a role that would be helpful to our common effort to stabilize the Sudan. We commend the constructive role of different actors and note that while all members of the international community may have an interest in the situation in the Sudan, for those of us in the region and the continent, our interests are enduring and proximate. Our resolve remains undeminished.
In conclusion, the A3 reaffirms its solidarity with the Sudanese people and its commitment to respect the territorial integrity of the country. We know that in such challenging times, it is easy to oversimplify the concerns of other parties and actors. We do not seek to do that and we hope others would not seek to do the same.
We believe, as another African proverb says, that even though the tree of patience may have bitter roots, its fruit is sweet. We, therefore, hope that working constructively we can all make a meaningful contribution to help stabilize the situation in the Sudan as soon as possible.
I thank you for your kind attention.