Sudan conflict: Djibouti appeals for immediate end to violence, urges inclusive talks
The violence has been intensifying, with dozens of people killed in ethnically targeted attacks in Al-Jazirah State, located in south eastern Sudan.
Djibouti has condemned the ongoing violence in Sudan, calling for accountability, restraint, and an inclusive dialogue to resolve the crisis.
In a statement on Sunday, Djiboutian President Ismail Omar Guelleh, who is the chairperson of the IGAD Heads of State and Government expressed deep concern over reports of killings and human rights violations against civilians in Wad Madani, Al-Jazirah State, and other parts of Sudan.
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Ismail condemned the violent actions, calling for those responsible to be held accountable and brought to justice, while ensuring the protection of civilians' rights. He emphasised the urgent need to prevent further escalation of the conflict and highlighted the potential impact on neighbouring countries.
“Djibouti calls on all parties to exercise restraint and prioritise de-escalation efforts. We reaffirm our commitment to peace and appeal for an immediate end to the conflict in Sudan through inclusive dialogue that preserves the unity, security, and stability of our brotherly nation,” he said.
The violence has been intensifying, with dozens of people killed in ethnically targeted attacks in Al-Jazirah State, located in south eastern Sudan.
Reports indicate an imminent battle for control of the capital Khartoum, as the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the rival paramilitary group, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), continue to engage in fierce conflict.
Since April 2023, the SAF and RSF have been locked in what UN Special Representative Volker Turk called a “senseless war”.
Deaths in villages
Last week, at least 21 civilians were killed in Al-Jazirah state, as confirmed by local organisations and rights groups. The RSF has launched new offensives in villages south and east of Al-Jazirah, following its defeat in Um Al-Qura and Wad Madani earlier this week.
The Emergency Lawyers Initiative, a pro-democracy organisation documenting the ongoing conflict, reported that 15 people were killed and more than 20 injured, including women, when RSF fighters attacked Al-Khizan village in the Abu Guta administrative area on Wednesday.
The group stated that the attack caused the “complete displacement” of Al-Khizan's residents, with the RSF looting property and committing “grave violations,” including extrajudicial killings, forced displacement, and kidnapping.
At the same time, the Al Jazirah Conference, a local monitoring group, reported that the RSF killed a man and his son in Al-Ashara village.
An RSF unit, allegedly including South Sudanese mercenaries, attacked several villages north of Wad Rawah, killing four civilians and injuring dozens more.
Many residents fled the violence, crossing the Blue Nile by boat, with the death toll continuing to rise.
In Al-Hasahisa, a key town in Al-Jazirah state, Sudan's “resistance committees”—neighbourhood groups that have spearheaded Sudan's pro-democracy movement since 2019 — accused the RSF of kidnapping civilians and demanding ransom for their release. The groups noted that internet blackouts have hindered efforts to verify the safety of those abducted.
The RSF, which took control of much of Al-Jazirah state in late 2023, has been implicated in widespread abuses, including killings and looting. The SAF has recently managed to retake parts of Wad Madani and other areas.
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