New York, February 25(Darfur24)
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned of the risks of dividing Sudan and deepening the crisis, after Sudanese forces signed a “founding charter” to form a parallel authority to the army.
In a statement attributed to his spokesman, the Secretary-General expressed deep concern over the announcement by the Rapid Support Forces(RSF), civilian actors and allied armed groups that they had signed a political charter expressing an intention to establish a ruling authority.
He added that “this escalation in the conflict in Sudan further fragments the country and risks deepening the crisis.”
Guterres said that preserving Sudan’s unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity remains essential to achieving a sustainable solution to the conflict and long-term stability for the country and the entire region.
The Secretary-General also condemned the ongoing violence perpetrated by both parties to the conflict against civilians across Sudan, including ethnically motivated attacks, noting that Sudanese women, children and men are paying a heavy price for the ongoing military attacks by the belligerents.
The Secretary-General explained that his Personal Envoy for Sudan, Ramtane Lamamra, continues to engage with the warring parties and all other relevant stakeholders to achieve progress on the cessation of hostilities, the protection of civilians, humanitarian access and the promotion of de-escalation.
RSF, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North, the Sudan Liberation Forces Alliance Taher Hajar, the Justice and Equality Movement Suleiman Sandal, the Sudan Liberation Movement-Transitional Council, and political and civil forces signed the founding charter on Saturday, which paves the way for the formation of a government.
The Sudan founding Alliance, (Tasis) postponed the declaration of the constitution paving the way for establishment of the government, for further consultations with partners and review of the texts, after it was scheduled to be announced on Monday in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi.
The government’s tasks, according to the provisions of the charter, are to end the war, achieve peace, protect civilians, allow humanitarian aid to flow, and restore the democratic path.
The step of declaring the government in areas controlled by the Rapid Support Forces raises fears that it will lead to the division of the country, while some believe that signs of division began through the army’s measures against areas under the control of RSF, including the exchange of the currency and the holding of Sudanese certificate exams in army areas.