Latest news with #RamtaneLamamra
Russia Today
6 days ago
- General
- Russia Today
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.
Asharq Al-Awsat
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
UN Envoy to Sudan: Foreign Arms Fuel Military Illusions, Prolong War
The United Nations' special envoy to Sudan, Ramtane Lamamra, has issued a stark warning about the continued flow of weapons into the war-torn country, saying it only 'feeds military delusions' and delays peace. In his first in-depth interview since assuming the role earlier this year, Lamamra told Asharq Al-Awsat that peace in Sudan cannot be imposed from outside but must be forged by Sudanese themselves through collective will and unity. 'Peace is not imposed, it is made,' he said. 'And if Sudanese do not make it, it will not come to them from the outside.' Lamamra, an Algerian diplomat and former foreign minister with decades of experience in African mediation, emphasized that no military solution is possible in Sudan's conflict. Instead, he called for an urgent political settlement, warning that 'each day of delay means more fragmentation, more bloodshed.' Following meetings in Port Sudan with Sovereign Council leader Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and ongoing communications with the leadership of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), Lamamra acknowledged that the path to peace remains long and difficult. He condemned what he described as a dangerous 'logic of dominance' driving the conflict—a belief that complete military victory is possible, regardless of the cost to Sudan's social fabric. 'Some actors still think peace can wait until one side wins,' he said. 'But that's a delusion. There is no military solution.' Instead, he stressed: 'Sudan needs a political solution based on compromise, not revenge.' Since taking office, Lamamra has focused on coordinating rather than expanding international mediation efforts. He voiced concern about the 'overcrowding of mediators,' which he said has allowed Sudanese factions to exploit international divisions. To address this, Lamamra launched a consultative group that includes the African Union, the Arab League, and peace-sponsoring countries. The group has met in Cairo, Djibouti, and Mauritania and plans to convene again in Brussels under EU sponsorship. 'What we need is not more mediators, but consensus around a unified vision,' he said. 'Multiple tracks have allowed some parties to bet on contradictory international positions, delaying serious efforts toward peace.' He pointed to UN Security Council Resolution 2724, which tasked him with coordinating peace efforts, emphasizing that its implementation hinges on aligning international efforts behind a single, realistic peace strategy. Asked whether Sudan's war has faded from global attention, Lamamra acknowledged that media coverage may fluctuate but said the humanitarian catastrophe continues to deepen. 'The suffering is daily and ongoing,' he said, highlighting the dire conditions in North Darfur and the rapidly deteriorating situation in Zamzam camp. 'The tragedy breaks the heart.' With over 13 million internally displaced and millions more seeking refuge abroad, Lamamra described Sudan as the site of the world's largest humanitarian crisis today. 'This is a country under siege by arms, division, and international silence,' he said. He praised the special attention paid by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who has longstanding ties to Sudan dating back to his leadership of the UN refugee agency. Lamamra was especially vocal about the dangerous role of foreign military support. 'Feeding the war with weapons is not support for resolution—it is participation in prolonging delusion and division,' he said. He accused some regional and international actors of backing Sudanese factions in hopes of future influence. 'They forget that war leaves nothing intact to control,' he noted. 'It's in no one's interest to see Sudan collapse.' The envoy reiterated the UN's calls for a total halt to arms shipments and strict enforcement of Security Council resolutions aimed at cutting off military funding. Despite international interference, Lamamra emphasized that the ultimate responsibility for ending the war lies with Sudanese themselves. 'History will judge them first and foremost,' he underlined. Lamamra said the Jeddah Declaration—an agreement brokered by Saudi Arabia to ensure humanitarian access and civilian protection—remains a viable starting point for peace efforts. He commended Riyadh's efforts and urged regional actors to intensify pressure on warring factions. He also pointed to the upcoming Arab League summit in Baghdad as a potential turning point. 'Sudan is central to the Arab identity. This is not a crisis that allows for neutrality,' he said. In a direct message to the Sudanese public, Lamamra expressed admiration for their resilience. 'I visited Port Sudan recently and met with leaders and citizens. I was moved by their hospitality and strong will to take charge of their future,' he said. He pledged the UN's continued support, acknowledging the scale of the humanitarian challenge: 'Children, women, and innocent civilians are being stripped of life's basic necessities. This crisis demands a moral awakening—not just from governments, but from everyone who hears and sees.' Lamamra concluded: 'Peace is not a one-time event—it's a long-term project. And if we don't begin now, there may be nothing left to build on in a few months.'
Middle East
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Middle East
OPEN// FM asserts Egypt's support of Sudan's security, stability, unity
CAIRO, April 30 (MENA) - Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates Badr Abdelatty asserted Egypt's support of Sudan's security, stability, unity, sovereignty and its territorial integrity. The top diplomat gave the remarks during a meeting on Wednesday with Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary General for Sudan Ramtane Lamamra. The meeting aimed at holding consultations over the political and field developments in Sudan and efforts to address the crisis. Spokesman for the Foreign Ministry Tamim Khallaf said Abdelatty reiterated Egypt's solidarity with the brotherly Sudanese people, expounding Egypt's painstaking efforts to restore security and stability in Sudan. The foreign minister underscored the importance of supporting Sudanese institutions and intensifying humanitarian response efforts regarding developments in sisterly Sudan. He stressed Egypt's utmost keenness on interacting with regional and international efforts to reach a ceasefire in Sudan and halt the suffering of the Sudanese people. He reviewed Egypt's support of the Sudanese people residing in Egypt since the outbreak of the crisis in April 2023 and until they can safely return home. He also highlighted Egypt's ongoing political efforts aimed at restoring stability in the neighboring country.(MENA) Y R E/S R E
Ya Biladi
16-04-2025
- Politics
- Ya Biladi
Algeria elected to African Union Peace and Security Council, replacing Morocco
On Tuesday, Algeria secured a seat on the African Union's Peace and Security Council, representing the North African region for a three-year term. The country succeeds Morocco, which held the seat during the previous mandate. The victory came in the third round of voting, where Algeria garnered 34 votes, defeating its sole competitor, Libya, which received 15 votes. With this result, Algeria regains a seat it had lost in 2022, five years after Morocco rejoined the continental organization in 2017. Algeria now joins Cameroon, Eswatini, Ethiopia, and Nigeria on the council, completing the 15-member body. The Council consists of five members elected for three-year terms and ten members serving two-year terms. Algeria had previously failed to win the seat during the February session after falling short of the required voting majority. The country had held a seat on the Peace and Security Council for 13 consecutive years starting in 2008, first represented by former Foreign Minister Ramtane Lamamra, followed by Ismail Chergui. The Peace and Security Council is the African Union's main executive body tasked with overseeing peace and security across the continent. Similar in function to the United Nations Security Council, its members are elected by the AU General Assembly based on criteria such as regional balance, contributions to military and financial efforts, and adherence to standards of good governance and political stability.
Zawya
11-04-2025
- Politics
- Zawya
Sudan: Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union marking two years of war
For the past two years, war in Sudan has brutally impacted the lives of millions of civilians. It has dimmed the hopes of the revolution of 2018/19. Fragmentation has deepened along political and ethnic lines. Sudan's unity and territorial integrity are in peril. The EU is concerned by the intentions expressed by the various actors to form governments unilaterally. A partition of the country must be prevented. The EU reiterates its strong appeal to the warring parties for an immediate and lasting ceasefire. The responsibility for this war continues to be on the shoulders of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), as well as their respective affiliated militias. The EU calls on all states supplying arms and funds to the belligerents to cease their support immediately and unite in favour of peace. The EU urges the belligerent parties to negotiate in good faith for a sustainable peace, where territorial integrity, unity and sovereignty are respected. The EU continues to support the African Union's and other regional and international mediation efforts, including those of the Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for Sudan, Ramtane Lamamra. The people of Sudan are facing the most catastrophic humanitarian crisis of the XXI st century. Famine has been confirmed and food insecurity is rampant, with almost 25 million people facing acute food insecurity. Sudan is also experiencing the largest protection crisis in the world with 12,6 million people forcibly displaced (more than 3 million across borders). The conflict spilling over into neighbouring countries can cause even greater human suffering and further destabilize the region. Our humanitarian partners will only be able to respond swiftly and fully if safe, rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access (cross-border and cross line) is facilitated by the conflicting parties. The EU and the EU member states continue to demand to all parties at war that all bureaucratic and administrative impediments be lifted immediately and that safety of civilians, including humanitarian workers, be guaranteed. The culture of impunity must stop. International humanitarian law and human rights violations are rampant and have been recorded throughout the country, in particular in the most conflict-affected areas of Darfur, Khartoum and Al Jazirah. Mass sexual and gender-based violence, starvation, arbitrary killings, child abductions, forced recruitment, and ethnically-based targeted attacks have been used as weapons of war at an unprecedented rate and scale, affecting notably women and children. The EU strongly condemns these severe mass atrocities. The EU, in close coordination with the international community, will use its diplomatic tools and instruments, including restrictive measures, to seek a peaceful resolution to the conflict and a lasting inter Sudanese inclusive political process reflecting the aspirations of the Sudanese people. The people of Sudan have a right to freedom, peace and justice. The EU supports an inclusive political process towards this goal. The EU commends efforts by the Special Representative for the Horn of Africa, who, on behalf of the member states, will continue to proactively engage with all parties in support of a single mediation effort leading to a ceasefire, increased humanitarian access, and an inclusive transition. The protection of civilians and critical infrastructure remains paramount for our action and the EU is ready to support monitoring mechanisms. The EU recognises the resilience and bravery of the Sudanese people amidst the worst humanitarian crisis we see today. It is high time to bring an end to this horrific bloodshed. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Council of the European Union.
