Madam President,
I would like to thank the Secretary-General of the United Nations and Ms. Eltigani for their interventions.
For several months, the observation has remained the same: the situation in Sudan is catastrophic and continues to deteriorate. Mr. Secretary General, your report published this month once again draws a disastrous assessment: the clashes have generated the largest internally displaced person crisis in the world, to which is added a food crisis and a health crisis, also weighing on the neighboring countries. Civilians, including women and children, continue to be targeted. In this regard, France strongly condemns the recent attacks perpetrated against civilians by the Rapid Support Forces in the Gezirah.
We must not settle for such a situation. As the Secretary-General emphasizes in his report, it is urgent that local ceasefires be declared without delay in the areas most affected by the conflict. And, beyond that, as he also underlines in his report, a global ceasefire must be concluded, and accompanied by an inclusive political process involving civil society, in particular Sudanese women and young people, and make it possible to address the root causes of the conflict. Only dialogue can lead to a solution for Sudan. As we did during the Paris Conference last April and on the sidelines of the high-level week of the United Nations General Assembly, France will continue its efforts to support regional and international diplomatic initiatives aimed at promoting this dialogue. In this regard, I would like to salute the action of the Special Envoy of the Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr. Lamamra.
Faced with the humanitarian emergency, it is urgent to implement certain measures:
First of all, as requested by resolution 2736 adopted on June 13, it is imperative to lift the siege of El Fasher and stop the fighting in the area. All parties to the conflict must ensure the protection of civilians and respect their obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law.
The full, secure and unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance throughout Sudan, across borders and front lines, is necessary to help the Sudanese people. In this regard, France welcomes the decision taken by the Sudanese authorities to approve the conduct of cross-border humanitarian operations from Chad to Darfur via the town of Adré. This decision must be made permanent.
France calls on all Member States to refrain from arming, financing and logistically supporting the parties to the conflict, in accordance with the commitments made in the Declaration of Principles adopted at the Paris Conference in April 2024 France welcomes the unanimous renewal of the arms embargo on Darfur last September and recalls that those who contravene it face sanctions, in accordance with Security Council resolution 1591.
Madam President,
The Secretary-General's report highlights the critical issue of protecting civilians in Sudan. France recalls that the two parties made commitments contained in the Jeddah declaration, which are not respected. It calls on the parties to comply with it and jointly establish a mechanism for verifying and monitoring their commitments, which regional and international partners can support.
Faced with the seriousness of the situation, we must do everything possible to support the Sudanese civilian population, by considering all the tools at our disposal, in conjunction with regional partners, and in particular the African Union.
Thank you.
