SUDAN – The African Union (AU) and the European Union (EU), together with foreign ministers from more than 20 countries, have urged Sudan’s rival forces to return to direct negotiations amid at achieving a permanent ceasefire. The appeal came in a joint ministerial meeting held in New York, where participants warned that Sudan is now facing one of the world’s worst humanitarian and displacement crises.
In their final communique, ministers underlined that over two-thirds of Sudan’s populations, around 30 million people, are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. They noted that 24 million Sudanese are suffering from severe food insecurity, a situation that has left the country on the brink of famine and forced millions to flee their homes. The statement described Sudan’s conflict as a disaster with regional implications if left unchecked.
The meeting condemned foreign military interventions in Sudan “in the strongest possible terms,” whether carried out by governments or non-state actors. It also warned against the supply of arms or financial support to either side in the conflict. The communique called for strict adherence to United Nations Security Council Resolution 1556 (2004), which prohibits the transfer of military equipment to parties perpetuating Sudan’s war.
Ministers welcomed the recent agreement on safeguarding essential infrastructure, an initiative facilitated by the EU, pressed the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) to implement urgent measures to protect civilians. The gathering also expressed support for the September 12 join statement by the Quartet, comprising the United States, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom, demanding an end to hostilities. Participants reiterated backing for African Union and Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) initiatives to coordinate international efforts to pressure Sudan’s rival forces into halting the fighting and engaging in political dialogue.
Reaffirming their commitment to Sudan’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity, ministers rejected any attempts to establish parallel governing structures that could undermine the country’s transition. They called on all actors to respect international humanitarian law and human rights standards, and to honor commitments made under the Jeddah Declaration.
The communique urged Sudan’s warring sides to allow a humanitarian pause in the city of El Fasher, as proposed by the United Nations, to ease the plight of civilians trapped by fighting. It further demanded unimpeded access for humanitarian aid through all possible entry points. Ministers welcomed the extension of the Adre border crossing with Chad until December 2025, but emphasized the need for it to remain open on a permanent basis to facilitate lifesaving supplies.
Concluding the meeting, participants pledged continued financial and diplomatic support for the humanitarian response both inside Sudan and in neighboring countries hosting refugees. They praised the generosity of host states and commended aid workers for their efforts in increasingly dangerous conditions.
The joint appeal reflects mounting international alarm as Sudan’s two years conflict deepens. With clashes intensifying in Darfur, Khartoum and other regions, foreign ministers warned that without an immediate ceasefire and renewed dialogue, Sudan’s war risks spiralling further and worsening what is already one of the world’s largest humanitarian emergencies.
