SUDAN (EL OBEID)— The Council of Ministers of the “Government of Peace” has issued a formal statement announcing it is closely monitoring ongoing dialogues among international partners regarding the protection of civilians, the facilitation of humanitarian aid, and the establishment of safe corridors in the city of El Obeid.

In a press release issued by Khaled Danaa, the Minister of Information and Official Government Spokesperson, the government expressed its appreciation for the heightened international attention on the crisis.

The Council affirmed its readiness to coordinate closely with international and regional actors—specifically highlighting the United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Union. The goal of this dialogue is to implement urgent and practical measures to protect civilians and alleviate their suffering under the direct supervision of the international community and the African Union.

Call for Safe Corridors and Unhindered Aid

Central to the government’s statement is the demand for safe passage for residents seeking to escape the conflict zones.

The Government of Peace explicitly called for the opening of safe corridors that would allow civilians who wish to leave El Obeid to reach secure areas where protection, security, and legal guarantees are provided.

Furthermore, the government reiterated its full commitment to:

  • Facilitating humanitarian access: Ensuring that aid reaches citizens in need without obstacles or discrimination.
  • Securing aid deliveries: Working in direct coordination with the international community, as well as regional and UN organizations.

Accusations of Human Rights Violations

Taking a strong stance against opposing factions, the Council of Ministers urged the international community to exert “maximum pressure” on what it described as the “army militia and its terrorist battalions.”

The government demands that these forces be compelled to allow civilians to leave the city freely. The statement levied severe accusations against these troops based on recent field intelligence, citing blatant violations of international humanitarian law. According to the statement, these violations include:

  • Imposing severe restrictions on the movement of civilians and actively preventing them from leaving the city.
  • Forcibly recruiting civilians and forcing them to bear arms in military operations.
  • Using civilians as human shields.
  • Striking civilian neighborhoods and residents with bombs and drone attacks.

Demand for an Unconditional Truce

The Government of Peace reaffirmed its steadfast position that the most effective way to protect civilians and end the ongoing suffering is an immediate, unconditional humanitarian truce. Such a ceasefire would enable the safe delivery of aid and the evacuation of the wounded and sick.

“The government calls on the international community to take firmer and more effective measures to pressure the Muslim Brotherhood group and its army to immediately respond to the calls for a humanitarian truce, especially after they have continuously rejected all international initiatives aimed at ceasing hostilities and providing protection for civilians.”

Khaled Danaa, Minister of Information and Official Spokesperson

STATEMENT:

Statement

We are following with great interest the ongoing dialogues among our partners in the international community regarding the protection of civilians, facilitating the access of humanitarian aid, and opening safe corridors for civilian citizens in the city of Al-Ubayyid (El Obeid). While we highly appreciate this international attention, we confirm the readiness of the Government of Peace to continue coordination and dialogue with all international and regional partners in general, and specifically with the United States of America, the United Kingdom, and the European Union, in order to reach practical and urgent measures that guarantee the protection of civilians and alleviate their suffering under the supervision of the international community and the African Union.

In this context, the Government of Peace reiterates its call to open safe corridors that enable civilians wishing to leave the city of Al-Ubayyid to reach safe areas where protection, security, and legal guarantees are available. It also reaffirms its full commitment to facilitating and securing the delivery of humanitarian aid, ensuring it reaches citizens in need without obstacles or discrimination, in coordination with the international community and international UN and regional organizations.

Furthermore, the Council of Ministers calls upon the international community to exert maximum pressure on the army militia and its terrorist battalions to compel them to allow civilians to leave the city freely, stop their forced recruitment, cease using them as human shields, and stop striking civilian neighborhoods and civilians with bombs and drones. Information and field monitoring indicate that these forces are imposing strict restrictions on the movement of civilians and preventing them from leaving the city, in addition to forcing a number of them to carry weapons and thrusting them into military operations, which represents a blatant violation of international humanitarian law.

The Council of Ministers of the Government of Peace renews its firm position that the fundamental and most effective way to protect civilians and end their suffering consists in reaching an immediate and unconditional humanitarian truce, allowing for the protection of civilians, the delivery of humanitarian aid, and the evacuation of the wounded and sick. In this context, the Government of Peace calls upon the international community to take firmer and more effective measures to pressure the Muslim Brotherhood group and its army to respond immediately to calls for humanitarian truces, after it has continuously rejected all international initiatives and calls aimed at ceasing hostilities and providing protection for civilians.

If you missed it –Sudan’s forgotten crisis: Khartoum, a thirsty city on the banks of the Nile