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United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has issued a stark warning that the war in Sudan is “spiraling out of control” following the fall of El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) — marking one of the darkest turns in the two-year conflict.
Speaking during the Second World Summit for Social Development in Doha, Qatar, Guterres said the situation now represents one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, with “hundreds of thousands of civilians trapped by siege, dying of malnutrition, disease, and violence.”
“We are hearing credible reports of widespread executions and violations of international law,” the UN chief said, calling for an immediate ceasefire and a global embargo on arms entering Sudan.
A Crisis Deepening by the Day
Satellite imagery and eyewitness reports describe a city reduced to ashes. Over 450 civilians were reportedly killed in hospital attacks as the RSF stormed El Fasher, following an 18-month siege that choked food, water, and medicine supplies.
The UN estimates over 14 million people have been displaced and more than 40,000 killed since fighting began in April 2023. Two regions are now experiencing famine-level conditions, with aid convoys unable to reach civilians due to the collapse of communications and road access.
The Call for Accountability
Guterres emphasized the need for mechanisms of accountability to investigate alleged war crimes and ethnic killings across Darfur. “No more weapons should enter Sudan,” he said. “The crimes being committed are horrendous and must not go unpunished.”
The international community, including the African Union and IGAD, faces growing pressure to broker peace and prevent the conflict from metastasizing across borders — a scenario that could destabilize the Horn of Africa and Sahel regions further.
The Voice of Africa Says
Sudan’s suffering is not an isolated tragedy — it’s a warning. When peace collapses in one African nation, the continent bleeds collectively.
The call for a ceasefire must now be matched with African-led diplomacy, not silence. Africa cannot afford another forgotten war.