LONDON – British Minister of State for the Middle East and North Africa, Hamish Falconer, has publicly called out Sudan’s military leadership and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) for direct responsibility over grave violations by their troops, warning that Sudan is facing one of the worst humanitarian crises in modern history.
Falconer stated that both the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF leadership bear full responsibility for the actions of their forces, emphasizing the unprecedented scale and impact of the crisis. His remarks come amid escalating violence in El Fasher, where he has called for an emergency United Nations Security Council session to condemn the RSF attack on the city, which reportedly left hundreds of civilians dead.
“The international community must take firm action in response to the ongoing abuses targeting civilian populations in conflict zones,” Falconer said, describing the situation as requiring an urgent and unified global stance.
Call for Immediate Security Council Action
Falconer urged the Security Council to formally denounce the RSF’s assault on El Fasher, labeling it a shocking attack against civilians. Citing reports of over 460 people killed in a single incident, he highlighted the mounting evidence of systematic violence and the need for rapid international intervention to protect civilians and halt further atrocities.
“The continued silence of the international community risks worsening Sudan’s humanitarian catastrophe,” Falconer warned, stressing the urgency of concrete global steps to hold perpetrators accountable and end the conflict.
Aid Restrictions and Mounting Suffering
Falconer condemned restrictions imposed by parties to the conflict, which are blocking the entry of life-saving humanitarian aid and exacerbating the suffering of vulnerable populations. He described these obstructions as flagrant violations of international humanitarian law, warning of the growing threats of famine and cholera amid the collapse of health services and disrupted supply chains.
He estimated that over 30 million people in Sudan now require urgent assistance, a crisis that surpasses the capacity of humanitarian organizations amid ongoing fighting and deteriorating security. Falconer described reports of mass civilian casualties in El Fasher as appalling, reiterating the UK government’s condemnation of the violence.
He called on the international community to take decisive steps to stop violations, hold those responsible to account, and work towards ending a conflict that threatens the future of the country.
