Western allies warn ‘no acceptable military solution’ to Sudan conflict

PORT SUDAN – The Troika countries on Friday issued a strong -worded statement condemning the escalating violence and human rights abuses in Sudan, warning that there is no acceptable military solution to the conflict.

In their statement that also condemned human rights abuses linked to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the Darfur region, the group comprising United States, United Kingdom, and Norway, said the conflict threatens to draw in neutral forces and risk dividing Sudan along ethnic lines.

“We reiterate that there is no acceptable military solution to the conflict, and call for an end to the fighting,” the Troika stated. “We urge the RSF and SAF to refrain from actions that would further divide Sudan along ethnic lines or draw other forces into their conflict.”

The powerful allies also welcomed recent resumption of talks in Jeddah, co-facilitated by Saudi Arabia, the United States, and the regional bloc, IGAD, and reiterated their calls for the conflicting parties to engage in meaningful war to ending the war.

“Both sides need to deescalate and engage in meaningful discussions that lead to a ceasefire and unhindered humanitarian access,” they said.

“To that end, we welcome the recent resumption of talks in Jeddah, co-facilitated by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United States, and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), which is also participating on behalf of the African Union, and recognise the initial humanitarian commitments made by the parties on November 7,” they added.

The group stressed that “Achieving a sustainable solution requires ending violence and resuming a civilian-owned political process to form a civilian government and restore Sudan’s democratic transition” and reiterated their support for the Sudanese people.

The Troika’s statement comes in the wake of a significant development in the conflict, as armed movements signatory to the 2020 Juba Peace Agreement have declared an end to their neutrality and launched military operations against the RSF.

In a statement yesterday from Port Sudan, the groups, comprising SLM/A Arko Minawi faction, Justice and Equality Movement of Gibril Ibrahim, and others, accused the RSF of repeatedly violating the terms of the Juba peace deal, engaging in human rights abuses against civilians, and threatening Sudan’s unity.

They cited the RSF’s human rights violations such as the alleged establishment of arbitrary detention centers and its indiscriminate attacks against civilians as key factors in their decision to break their neutrality.

“The Rapid Support Forces militia’s transgressions in killing innocent citizens based on ethnicity, establishing serious prisons in Khartoum, Um Roaba, Nyala, Zalingei, and most recently in Um Kadada locality in Giraida, on fabricated political charges, have increased,” they said.

“In light of the threat to Sudan’s unity, the repeated militia attacks on cities and villages, assaults on innocent citizens, killings, and torture, and the imminent threat to humanitarian and commercial convoys by attempts to block supply routes to cities and regions, all these developments make us announce the end of our neutrality and declare our participation in military operations on all fronts without hesitation,” they added.

Implications of the declaration by the movements against RSF remains unclear, but it marks a major escalation of the conflict in Sudan and poses a serious challenge to the RSF’s most dominance advance in Darfur and the capital Khartoum.