Opening Remarks for the UNITAMS as a member of Trilateral Mechanism

AU Extended Mechanism on Sudan

31 May 2023

Your Excellencies,

• As the conflict in Sudan enters its second month, the meeting today is very timely - joining all of us together as key actors and partners with common interests and objectives – peace and stability for Sudan and its people. 

• The UN welcomes the Heads of State meeting of the Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union (AU) held on 27 May on the Situation in Sudan. The UN fully endorses the Summit’s demand that the Sudanese warring parties end this conflict without delay and resume a political process that will yield a democratic outcome in line with the democratic aspirations of the Sudanese people.

• It underscored the overriding importance of a single, inclusive and consolidated peace process for Sudan, coordinated under the joint auspices of the African Union, IGAD, League of Arab States and UN, along with like-minded partners. It also noted that a multiplicity and proliferation of mediation initiatives would not serve the interests of the collective will of the Sudanese people.

• As part of consolidating peace process efforts, to that end, the United Nations proposes a panel, jointly appointed of three or four high-level personalities, to help lead and coordinate mediation efforts. The Trilateral Mechanism (AU, IGAD, UN) could work under them and support their efforts. Such a high-level panel would allow all partners to harmonize their engagement and strengthen their collective impact at this critical juncture.

• The UN also welcomed the measures taken so far by the African Union, particularly the establishment of the Expanded Mechanism on Sudan and its Core Group, as an all-inclusive platform of regional, continental and global actors and institutions, to provide broad-based and coordinated engagement within the international community, to foster political consensus and common global support for Sudan. 

• We note that the Sudanese warring parties have agreed to a five-day extension to the May 20 Agreement on a Short-Term Ceasefire, and Humanitarian Arrangements signed last Monday in Jeddah by the representatives of the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces. We urge the warring parties to use these five days to reach agreement to implement the ceasefire fully. We take the opportunity to commend the mediation efforts of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States of America for reaching these agreements, and their continuous monitoring of the violations, and their calls upon the warring parties to honour and adhere to their obligations and refrain from these violations.  We know this has not been easy.
• These important calls were echoed by all of us here to both warring parties - we all want for this war to stop - and to end further deterioration of the country and the human suffering. We call upon the warring parties to put the people of Sudan, and their access to humanitarian assistance and essential services, at the centre. We are committed to the delivery of assistance that already had started to reach the people in need, however without security, access will be limited - and humanitarian workers are at risk. 

• As of 29^th of May, at least 100 trucks - out of 168 trucks of humanitarian supplies - were transported to Khartoum, Al-Jazirah, Red Sea, Kassala, Gedaref, and Sennar states. This represents 60 percent of the planned movement of supplies. The supplies included Health, Nutrition, Education, Child Protection, Water/Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), and Non-Food Items.  UN humanitarian actors and their partners transported over 2,600 metric tons of supplies that could benefit about two million people. Of the items, 1,795 metric tons are for repositioning and distribution, while at least 900 tons of supplies are for immediate distribution.  OCHA facilitated principled humanitarian engagement with SAF, RSF and the Higher Committee and updated the OCHA focal point in Jeddah.    

• More people can and must be reached throughout all of Sudan, particularly conflict-ridden areas in Khartoum, Darfur and elsewhere. But the fighting must stop, routes must be secured, and safe passage guaranteed.
• There will be a need to tackle the permanent cessation of hostilities and support to a new political process, a Sudanese-owned one. We believe that a broad based, credible civilian-led transition meeting the democratic aspirations of the Sudanese people can guarantee a lasting peace in Sudan. 
• We all here share the same interests towards peace and stability in Sudan, regional and international initiatives emerged, all sharing the same objectives, hence the importance of this forum here today; the AU-led extended mechanism on Sudan, joining all the multilateral, regional, and international actors, as well as the neighbouring countries, so we can all have a unified approach, and complementarity in resources.
• We hope we can build together today on these outcomes, and use this forum as an opportunity to enhance our collective leverage, and unify our efforts in the most effective way to the benefit of Sudan. A secretariat should be formed as soon as possible so that it can coordinate, direct and support all initiatives supporting a consolidated peace process and political talks.  Decisions around a high-level panel should also be taken. Regional organizations and entities should be leveraged to bring to bear the respective strengths, expertise and leverage in the service of peace. 
• Finally, building on the work we have done in the Trilateral Mechanism, the United Nations remains committed to working closely with the African Union and IGAD, as we pursue a permanent ceasefire, facilitation of humanitarian access, and providing support to the Sudanese actors in preparing the ground for the right moment to return to civilian democratic rule. And we remain committed to engage with all of you to reach this end. We look forward to a fruitful and constructive meeting.