Joint Statement from the United Arab Emirates, United States, Switzerland, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the African Union, and the United Nations in Switzerland on the Sudan Talks

“As part of ongoing efforts to advance protection of civilians, humanitarian access, and cessations of hostilities for Sudan, the delegations met with the representatives of the Rapid Support Forces. The delegations stressed the urgent humanitarian needs of the Sudanese people, the imperative to respect and ensure respect of international humanitarian law, and the requirement to implement the commitments made under the Jeddah Declaration. This includes the responsibility of both parties to protect civilians, to protect and respect civilian infrastructure including hospitals and schools and to vacate them for their normal usage, and to allow freedom of civilian movement. Among the priority issues raised at yesterday's meeting was the need to allow safe and unhindered passage of humanitarian aid and workers in and through all areas of RSF control, including along the road from Gedaref, through Wad Medani and Sennar. 

We urged the RSF to open areas of this road under its control, and specifically the Sennar junction, as this would expand access to humanitarian aid for up to 12 million Sudanese across multiple states, and will continue engagement with the RSF on this important matter. We welcome the presence of the RSF, their response and their readiness to take steps to further the protection of civilians and improve the humanitarian situation through additional measures. We welcome the news that humanitarian actors plan to move through the Adre crossing today, reiterate the need for the RSF to allow safe and unhindered access for humanitarian cargo and workers once movements begin through this corridor and reiterate both parties' obligation under international humanitarian law to protect civilian infrastructure, including the bridges and roads necessary for humanitarian access. We intend to meet the SAF delegation as soon as they arrive or contact them in any way they choose.”