Joint Statement of G7 Foreign Ministers on El-Obeid (Sudan)

We, the G7 Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America, and the High Representative of the European Union urge the Rapid Support Forces and allied armed groups to immediately cease any action likely to lead to further atrocities or endanger civilians in El-Obeid, including drone strikes and impediments to humanitarian access. Following the atrocities committed during the Rapid Support Force's siege and attack on El Fasher, we remain gravely concerned about alleged severe violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law across Kordofan and Darfur regions, as well as Blue Nile in Sudan.

We urge the Rapid Support Forces, as well as the Sudanese Armed Forces and allied armed groups, to abide by their obligations under the rules of international humanitarian law and international human rights law, as applicable. Civilians must be protected. We call on parties to the conflict to guarantee safe voluntary passage, and to facilitate rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access into and around El-Obeid and throughout the country.

We urge the Sudanese Armed Forces, the Rapid Support Forces and allied armed groups to immediately cease hostilities and to engage in direct negotiations in good faith. We call for the Sudanese Armed Forces to cease their repeated rejection of the proposed de-escalation measures and for the Rapid Support Forces to implement their commitments under the Jeddah Declaration, which they have consistently failed to do so far.

We support the efforts of the United Nations Secretary-General's Personal Envoy, Mr. Pekka Haavisto, to advance de-escalation in El-Obeid and support ongoing broader efforts by the Quad and the Quintet to achieve a humanitarian truce, followed by a permanent ceasefire and an independent, inclusive, transparent and civilian-led political dialogue.

We are united in our determination to promote accountability for all violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law committed by all parties to the conflict. We remain committed to supporting victims and survivors, including through efforts to advance guarantees of non-recurrence.

We call upon all external actors, as stated in the Berlin principles, to cease providing, directly or indirectly, armed, logistical, or financial support to the parties to the conflict and to refrain from any action that could exacerbate tensions and fuel the conflict. We call on the United Nations Security Council to expand the arms embargo on Darfur region to the entire Sudanese territory.

We reaffirm our unwavering commitment to Sudan's sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity. We reject all unilateral initiatives that risk leading to the country's partition and remain committed to support the democratic aspirations of the Sudanese people.