Sudan conflict: ‘There cannot be a military solution to this war’

29 December 2024

Khartoum – The United Nations Special Representative for Sudan, Volker Perthes, has warned that there cannot be a military solution to the conflict in Darfur, and that a political solution is urgently needed.

Perthes made the remarks during a press conference in Khartoum on Thursday, following a meeting with the Sudanese government and rebel leaders.

“The conflict in Darfur has been going on for far too long, and it has caused immense suffering for the people of Sudan,” Perthes said. “There cannot be a military solution to this war. A political solution is urgently needed.”

Perthes called on all parties to the conflict to lay down their arms and enter into negotiations. He also urged the government to address the root causes of the conflict, including poverty, unemployment, and inequality.

“The people of Darfur have suffered enough,” Perthes said. “It is time for peace.”

The conflict in Darfur began in 2003, when rebel groups took up arms against the government, accusing it of discrimination and neglect. The conflict has since caused the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people and displaced millions more.

In recent months, there has been a resurgence of violence in Darfur, with both government forces and rebel groups accused of committing human rights abuses.

The United Nations has been calling for a ceasefire in Darfur for several years, but so far its appeals have been ignored.

Perthes’s warning comes as the Sudanese government and rebel leaders are preparing for peace talks, which are scheduled to begin in January.

The talks are seen as a critical opportunity to end the conflict in Darfur. However, there are concerns that the talks could collapse, as they have in the past.

Perthes urged all parties to the conflict to approach the talks with a spirit of compromise.

“The people of Darfur deserve peace,” Perthes said. “I urge all parties to the conflict to seize this opportunity to end the war.”

Additional information

• The conflict in Darfur is one of the world’s longest-running conflicts.
• The conflict has caused the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people and displaced millions more.
• The conflict is rooted in poverty, unemployment, and inequality.
• The United Nations has been calling for a ceasefire in Darfur for several years.
• Peace talks are scheduled to begin in January.

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