Guterres: the Sudanese conflict risks igniting the entire region

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told the Security Council on Thursday that the conflict in Sudan "has taken a toll on the Sudanese people, jeopardizing the unity of the country" and that there is now " a serious risk that the conflict could trigger regional instability on a dramatic scale, from the Sahel to the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea.

“We are deeply concerned by calls to arm civilians and popular mobilization activities in various states. Armed groups are entering the fray – in Darfur and South Kordofan,” Mr. Guterres said. “All these dangerous developments add fuel to the fire for an even more serious fragmentation of the country, a deepening of intra- and inter-communal tensions and a resurgence of ethnic violence. »

According to Guterres, “It is time to silence the guns and turn up the volume for peace. »

The humanitarian crisis in Sudan is “reaching colossal proportions”, as “half the population – some 25 million people – need life-saving assistance, according to António Guterres.

“Sudan is now home to the world's largest internal displacement crisis, with 6.3 million people seeking refuge in the country since the conflict began. And another 1.7 million people have fled to neighboring countries, Guterres said.

The United Nations and humanitarian partners are doing everything to stem this suffering, but face major challenges in their attempts to supply millions of people in need.