The United Nations has renewed its appeal for a ceasefire in Sudan following a peace initiative presented by the country’s Transitional Prime Minister during a recent Security Council meeting. UN Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed the initiative, emphasizing that achieving lasting and inclusive peace is critical as the conflict enters a new year. He called on all parties to agree to an immediate cessation of hostilities and work toward a durable ceasefire that preserves Sudan’s unity and territorial integrity, urging Sudanese actors to prioritize compromise and articulate a shared vision for a civilian-led transition.
The Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for Sudan, Ramtane Lamamra, remains prepared to facilitate consultations with both parties to support an inclusive and sustainable resolution, complementing ongoing diplomatic efforts by UN Member States and regional partners.
The UN’s ceasefire push comes amid serious security setbacks on the ground. The UN peacekeeping mission in the oil-rich Abyei region, which straddles Sudan and South Sudan, recently completed the evacuation of its logistics base in Kadugli, South Kordofan, ending nearly 13 years of operations at the site. This withdrawal followed a deadly drone attack on 13 December that killed six Bangladeshi peacekeepers and injured nine others. The Kadugli base had served as the headquarters of the Joint Border Verification and Monitoring Mechanism (JVMM), which oversees a demilitarized border zone established by Sudan and South Sudan in 2012. UNISFA continues operations from other locations, including Tishwin and Abu Qussa.
Humanitarian needs in Sudan continue to escalate alongside the conflict. A UN-led assessment highlights the heightened vulnerability of female-headed households, which face reduced access to cash, education, and water services, along with increased risks of displacement and protection threats. Intensified fighting, particularly in Kordofan and Darfur, has driven mass displacement, disrupted humanitarian aid, and worsened already catastrophic conditions for civilians.
Now entering its third year, the war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has created one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises, claiming thousands of civilian lives, displacing millions, and triggering famine conditions in several regions. The UN’s renewed call for a ceasefire underscores the urgent need to protect civilians, facilitate humanitarian access, and pursue a political resolution to end the conflict.
