EU condemns escalation in Sudan, threatens sanctions

ISTANBUL

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on Sunday issued a condemnation of escalating clashes in the city of El Fasher in southwestern Sudan, warning of "additional sanctions."

Borrell said the EU stands ready to consider the potential "additional sanctions" including against leadership figures and stressed the bloc’s commitment to preventing "another genocide" in the region as the conflict between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) escalates.

The statement highlighted the critical situation at Zamzam camp, Sudan's largest internally displaced persons camp, and urged adherence to UN Security Council resolution 2736, which demands an immediate halt to the RSF "siege" of El Fasher.

Borrell called on all parties, including regional supporters, to respect international humanitarian law and ensure civilian protection and unhindered humanitarian access.

The EU official urged RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo and SAF leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan to engage in peace negotiations.

He also called for an end to support from regional and international sponsors fueling the conflict.

Sudan has been mired by fighting between the army and the RSF since April 2023, with at least 12,260 people having been killed and more than 33,000 injured in the conflict, according to UN figures.

A humanitarian crisis continues to worsen as nearly 6.8 million people have fled their homes seeking safety in Sudan or neighboring countries.

Several cease-fire agreements brokered by Saudi Arabia and US mediators have failed to end the violence.