G7 and European Union call on Rapid Support Forces to end operations in Sudan

Paris, July 14 (KUNA) -- The Group of Seven (G7) countries and the European Union called on Tuesday for the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and allied armed groups to end their operations in the city of El Obeid in Sudan. This came in a joint statement issued by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs on behalf of the G7 foreign ministers and the EU High Representative, urging the RSF and allied armed groups to immediately halt any movements that could lead to further atrocities or endanger civilians, including launching drone attacks and obstructing the delivery of humanitarian aid.

The statement expressed deep concern over serious violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law committed during the RSF’s siege and attack on El Fasher, as well as across the regions of Kordofan, Darfur, and Blue Nile in Sudan. It urged the RSF, the Sudanese Armed Forces, and allied armed groups to fulfill their obligations under international humanitarian law, international human rights law, and the Jeddah Declaration.

The statement emphasized the need to protect civilians, ensure safe passage for them, and facilitate the rapid and unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid to El Obeid and its surroundings, as well as throughout Sudan. It reaffirmed support for the efforts of the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for Sudan, Pia Havisto, to de-escalate tensions in El Obeid, as well as broader ongoing efforts to achieve a humanitarian ceasefire followed by a permanent cessation of hostilities and an independent, inclusive, and transparent political dialogue led by civilian actors.

The G7 and the EU also reaffirmed their support for international and regional judicial and accountability mechanisms tasked with preventing, documenting, investigating, and reporting on violations committed across Sudan, and ensuring accountability for those responsible. The statement called on all external parties to cease providing any military, logistical, or financial support, directly or indirectly, to the parties to the conflict, and to refrain from any actions that could exacerbate tensions and escalate the conflict, in line with the Berlin Principles agreed upon.

It further stated that the UN Security Council should expand the arms embargo imposed on the Darfur region to cover all of Sudan’s territory. According to the statement, the G7 and the EU reiterated their firm commitment to Sudan’s sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity, expressing their rejection of all unilateral initiatives that could lead to the division of the country and the Sudanese people.

The G7 is a framework for dialogue and economic partnership, comprising France, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, Italy, and Japan. Established in 1975, the group is considered a leading forum of advanced economies, accounting for approximately two-thirds of global net wealth at its inception, and representing around 44 percent of global wealth in 2023. (End) m.b / f.l.a