“The European Union notes the signature overnight by the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces of a declaration of commitment to protect civilians”, said the European External Action Service (EEAS) on Friday 12 May, paying tribute to the “determined efforts of Saudi and American negotiators” that led to this breakthrough in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia).
Noting that after 3 weeks, the conflict has “already cost the lives of around 600 civilians, 190 of whom were children”, the EU insists that the protection of civilians and safe access for humanitarian aid are legally binding obligations and have been since the beginning of the conflict.
“The value of the declaration will depend entirely on whether it is honoured by the parties and transforms the situation on the ground”, said the EEAS. It notes that the UN Human Rights Council has mandated the expert appointed by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Sudan to document all allegations of human rights violations and abuses, including those arising directly from the current conflict.
And it added, “A sustainable ceasefire, rather than a schedule for it, is an urgent and overdue imperative” (see EUROPE 13178/3, 13169/42). (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)