Russia and UN official discuss steps to end Sudan conflict
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin has met with the UN secretary-general's personal envoy for Sudan, Ramtane Lamamra, to discuss ways to bring the armed conflict in Sudan to an end, the Foreign Ministry announced on Monday.
During their discussions, both parties reportedly highlighted the urgency of ending the protracted conflict. Since April 2023, Sudan has been gripped by fierce fighting between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), with both factions vying for control amid a stalled transition to civilian rule.
'The need for coordinated efforts by the international community aimed at achieving a ceasefire and resuming an inclusive inter-Sudanese dialogue involving all influential political forces and ethno-confessional groups in the country was emphasized,' the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
The ministry added that special attention was given to the dire humanitarian situation on the ground.
'The inadmissibility of destructive external interference in the Sudanese crisis has been reaffirmed,' the statement read.
According to Reuters, citing the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), more than 4 million people have fled Sudan since the outbreak of the war. UNHCR spokesperson Eugene Byun told reporters in Geneva that the situation has reached a 'tragic milestone,' and warned that continued violence would drive thousands more into displacement, posing risks to regional and global stability.
At the briefing, the UNHCR's Dossou Patrice Ahouansou highlighted the deteriorating conditions in neighboring Chad, where over 800,000 Sudanese refugees have sought shelter. He described the living conditions as 'appalling' due to severe underfunding, noting that only 14% of the required resources have been raised.
Estimates of fatalities vary, though research from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine suggests that over 61,000 people were killed in the state of Khartoum alone during the first 14 months of the conflict.
Earlier this month, the UN reiterated its call for all parties in Sudan to uphold international humanitarian law.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Russia Today
15 hours ago
- Russia Today
Fyodor Lukyanov: Kiev's drone strikes prove Moscow's point
The second round of talks between Russian and Ukrainian delegations in Istanbul, and the events leading up to them, offer a clear snapshot of the current state of the conflict. It is far from over. Paradoxically, Ukraine's weekend attacks only reaffirmed Mocow's long-standing position: no ceasefire is possible without a basic agreement on the terms of a future settlement. Military force remains the key negotiating tool. In a confrontation of this scale and intensity, no party is willing to forfeit it. Russia has made this its official policy. Ukraine's latest actions confirm it in practice. If we look at the major drawn-out military confrontations of the late 20th and early 21st centuries, excluding interventions against vastly weaker foes, we see a consistent pattern: political negotiations don't follow a ceasefire, they run in parallel with military operations. In Korea and Vietnam, the process dragged on for years. This isn't cause for celebration, but realism dictates that only this path offers any hope for a durable outcome. It should come as no surprise that talk of ceasefires has now faded into the background. Despite vocal objections from Kiev and its Western allies, the talks are proceeding on Russia's terms. This means: no ultimatums, no artificial deadlines, and a carefully staged approach to dialogue. Washington, too, seems comfortable with this pace. What matters for President Trump is the appearance of progress, not dramatic breakthroughs. At least for now. Kiev, ideally, would prefer to disrupt this rhythm – to inject chaos and unpredictability, which aligns with its more improvisational political-military style. From that perspective, Russia's decision to proceed with the Istanbul meeting despite Ukraine's high-profile sabotage attempts was strategically sound. Kiev likely hoped the Russians would walk away. They didn't. The contrast between the actual tone of the Istanbul negotiations and the media frenzy surrounding them is stark. Each round was preceded by breathless hype and inflated expectations, only to be followed by muted results. This is partly media instinct, partly deliberate spin. People crave movement, even when none exists. Contact between the delegations deflates these illusions, and then the cycle begins anew. So, what came of the second meeting? Most notably: the process continues. Neither side wants to halt it. The theatrical posturing common to Ukrainian politics has been absent – for two reasons. First, the invisible presence of Donald Trump looms over the table. Both Moscow and Kiev see him as a vital third player. Trump wants talks. Both sides are happy to give the impression that talks are happening. Second, both know this channel may become indispensable. Circumstances will change. When they do, real conversations will be necessary. It's better to have the bridge already built. The so-called 'root causes of the conflict' remain untouched. Both sides are sticking to peripheral matters that can be addressed without triggering political landmines. From a humanitarian point of view, this is valuable, but it is far from a comprehensive settlement. Does this limited dialogue foster understanding between negotiators? Possibly. That may help later, when harder questions arise. But does it signal a narrowing of the vast gulf between Russia and Ukraine? No. Are the public memorandums issued by each side, despite their contradictions, worthwhile? Yes. Diplomatically, it is better to stake out clear positions than wallow in strategic ambiguity. True, the documents clash on nearly every point. But history shows that changing conditions often soften even the most rigid positions. Ultimately, battlefield developments will shape diplomacy. Military operations are expanding – both in geography and in the sophistication of tactics and weaponry. Each side has its advantages and will press them. There is no sign of the war ending anytime soon. A response from Russia to Sunday's bridge and airfield attacks is inevitable. It will likely be proportional to the scale of Ukraine's strikes. Importantly, this response will not be aimed solely at Kiev. It will be a message to all involved parties – including the United States and Western Europe. Russia's reply must reflect the multifaceted nature of the conflict and its many audiences. But none of this means the negotiations will stop. In fact, the talks may become more valuable precisely because the conflict article was first published in the newspaper Rossiyskaya Gazeta and was translated and edited by the RT team
Russia Today
19 hours ago
- Russia Today
US blacklists seven African countries
US President Donald Trump has imposed a travel ban on nationals from seven African countries – Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Libya, Somalia, and Sudan. He cited alleged terrorism risks and high rates of visa overstays in explaining his decision, effective on June 9. The move was announced in an executive order published on Wednesday as part of broader immigration policy reform that targeted 12 countries; the seven African states and Afghanistan, Myanmar, Haiti, Iran, and Yemen. Burundi, Sierra Leone and Togo are also among seven other countries hit with partial restrictions under the directive, limiting entry through specific visa categories. The others are Cuba, Laos, Turkmenistan and Venezuela. 'The restrictions… imposed by this proclamation are necessary to garner cooperation from foreign governments, enforce our immigration laws, and advance other important foreign policy, national security, and counterterrorism objectives,' Trump stated. Trump has claimed that Libya and Somalia attract recruits for terrorist groups that pose a threat to US national security. The other countries face restrictions due to either 'unacceptable' visa overstay rates or the absence of a 'competent' authority for passport issuance and proper security vetting. 'I must act to protect the national security and national interest of the United States and its people,' Trump said, adding that he remains committed to engaging with countries willing to cooperate and resolve the identified concerns. Somali Ambassador to the US, Dahir Hassan Abdi, said in a statement cited by Reuters that Mogadishu 'values its longstanding relationship' with Washington and 'stands ready to engage in dialogue to address the concerns raised.' Trump previously imposed entry bans on several Muslim-majority and African countries during his first term, in 2017 and 2020. Those measures drew widespread legal and diplomatic criticism but were ultimately upheld by the US Supreme Court in 2018. Former President Joe Biden reversed the bans shortly after taking office in 2021, calling them discriminatory. On Wednesday, Trump accused the Biden administration of pursuing 'open door policies' that, he claimed, have allowed millions of undocumented immigrants to remain in the US unlawfully. In a video message published by the White House, Trump said a recent attack on a pro-Israel rally in Boulder, Colorado, had 'underscored the extreme dangers' posed to the US 'by the entry of foreign nationals who are not properly vetted.'
Russia Today
a day ago
- Russia Today
Russia approves oil pipeline venture in African state
Russian lawmakers have approved an agreement with the Republic of the Congo to cooperate on the construction of an oil pipeline linking the Congolese port city of Pointe-Noire to the interior of the country. The decision was announced on Wednesday by the Russian Federation Council's press service. The agreement, which outlines the creation of a joint venture, was presented by Andrey Klimov, deputy chair of the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs. Under the terms of the deal, authorized entities from both countries will form a joint company, with a 90% Russian stake. 'This joint venture will sign a contract with a Russian authorized organization for the pipeline's construction. Under a concession agreement, that same organization will also be responsible for securing commercial financing for the joint venture to carry out the pipeline construction,' Klimov explained. According to Valery Andrianov, an associate professor at the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, the project is of strategic importance. He told Izvestia outlet that the pipeline will enable the efficient transport of petroleum products from Pointe-Noire, Congo's main port and economic hub, to fuel-scarce inland areas. He noted that fuel shortages have led to price surges and mounting public dissatisfaction in the African nation. 'Therefore, the construction of a new highway will solve an important socio-economic problem,' Izvestia reported, citing Andrianov. Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks with his Congolese counterpart, Denis Sassou Nguesso, in Moscow last month. The two leaders discussed strengthening cooperation across energy, trade, and infrastructure sectors. In an earlier interview with the African Initiative news agency, Nguesso said Congo was deepening energy cooperation with Russia and confirmed the pipeline as 'a major project.'
