Foreign weapons, fighters and logistical support are sustaining and intensifying Sudan's civil war, the United Nations' Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for the Sudan has warned. Its chair, Mohamed Chande Othman, presented the mission's latest findings to the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly in New York on 28 October, with the findings reported on 29 October.

What the UN mission reported in New York

Othman said the investigation had found reasonable grounds to believe that a transnational network operating across several countries had enabled and reinforced military operations by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). He also said external actors had supplied both parties to the conflict, helping to sustain their military operations. The mission identified networks involving individuals and entities in Chad, south-east Libya, Somalia's Puntland region and the United Arab Emirates, while stressing that its findings did not establish responsibility by those governments.

Drones reach far beyond the front lines

The human cost, the mission said, is spreading beyond the battlefield. Othman warned that Sudan is witnessing a dangerous expansion of drone warfare and long-range attacks, with communities and civilian infrastructure far from the main centres of fighting now at risk. "As long as weapons, fighters and military support continue to flow into Sudan, civilians will continue to pay a dire price," he said.

The mission's call to states

The mission called for stronger international action, including an expanded arms embargo, and for states to take reasonable steps to stop individuals and entities under their jurisdiction from contributing to violations and international crimes in Sudan. The war between the Sudanese army and the RSF began in April 2023, and has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced around 13 million, making it one of the world's largest displacement crises.

Sources: UN Web TV, AnewZ.