UNITED NATIONS: The United Nations Security Council is set to vote on a UK-drafted resolution demanding a halt to the siege of El Fasher in Sudan’s North Darfur region by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The resolution calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities, de-escalation in and around the city, and the withdrawal of all fighters threatening civilian safety.
Britain has requested a vote on the draft by the 15-member council on Thursday. Adoption of the resolution requires at least nine votes in favor and no vetoes from the permanent members: Russia, China, the United States, Britain, or France.
The RSF, which has seized control of Khartoum and much of western Sudan, is attempting to advance further within the central regions. United Nations agencies have warned that Sudan is facing an “imminent risk of famine.” The conflict has displaced approximately 130,000 people in El Fasher due to the fighting in April and May.
Sudan has been engulfed in war since April 2023, following clashes between the main army, led by military chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the RSF, commanded by his former deputy, Hamdan Daglo. The UN reports that over 10 million people have been displaced, with over two million seeking refuge in neighboring countries such as Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the Central African Republic. The conflict has claimed an estimated 15,000 lives so far.
Starvation remains a severe threat in Sudan, with about 18 million people facing hunger and 3.8 million children acutely malnourished. Despite multiple rounds of negotiations, the conflict persists without any successful resolution or cessation of hostilities.
