Foreign ministers of the G7 countries on Wednesday condemned attacks by Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on civilians and aid workers in El-Fasher and North Kordofan, urging an immediate and permanent ceasefire.
In a joint statement issued after a two-day meeting in Niagara, Canada, the ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, together with the European Union’s High Representative, called on both the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) to “respect human rights, de-escalate, commit to an immediate and permanent ceasefire, and ensure rapid and unimpeded passage of humanitarian assistance.”
The ministers expressed concern over what they described as “ethnically motivated” attacks and warned of the worsening humanitarian situation in Sudan. They highlighted the impact of the war, which has created what they called “the world’s largest humanitarian crisis.”
“We unequivocally condemn sexual violence,” the statement added, urging all external actors to support diplomatic efforts aimed at restoring peace and stability in the country.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the conflict between the SAF and RSF, which erupted in April 2023, has killed at least 40,000 people and displaced more than 12 million.
The RSF currently controls all five states of Darfur, while the army holds most of the remaining 13 states, including the capital Khartoum.