SITUATION OVERVIEW 

Lt. General al-Burhan, in his address to the UN General Assembly (UNGA) accused the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of war crimes, ethnical cleansing, illegitimate release of ICC indictees from prison and called for the designation of RSF as a terrorist organisation. He reiterated his commitment to a democratic transition in Sudan through the establishment of a technocratic government in an interim period leading up to elections. The Forces of Freedom and Change (FFC/Central Council) defined the statement as disappointing and lacking commitment to address the current crisis. In an interview, FFC-CC spokesperson further stated that neither Lt. General al-Burhan or Lt. General Dagalo would be accepted to lead the democratic transition after the end of the war. Former Prime Minister, Abdallah Hamdok, in a letter to UN Secretary General signed by Sovereign Council members, condemned the UN’s invitation to Lt. General al-Burhan as contradictory to declared international stances against the 2021 coup. In the letter, Hamdok also emphasized that the coup had halted Sudan’s democratic transition, leading to its constitutional downfall and freezing of international funds until civilian rule was restored. Lt. General Dagalo released a video speech addressed to the UNGA through which he accused Lt. General al-Burhan of falsely representing Sudan at the UNGA as lacking legitimacy following the October 2021 coup. He further accused the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) of being closely affiliated to elements of the old regime, alleged involvement with terrorist groups and concluded by expressing his readiness to declare a nationwide ceasefire to address the humanitarian situation and lead the country towards a democratic transition.

On the margins of the 78th UNGA, several bilateral meetings between Lt. General al-Burhan and senior officials also took place, including one with the UN Secretary General – with discussions focusing on efforts to resolve the crisis and the UN’s role in Sudan. Other meeting included the ICC Prosecutor, the Chairperson of the African Union, Russian Foreign Minister, Saudi Foreign Minister, President of the Central African Republic and US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs. Lt. General al-Burhan is said to have also met with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy at Shannon airport in Ireland. In a media interview, Lt. General al-Burhan claimed to have not sought external military support and urged neighbouring countries to stop sending mercenaries in support of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Representatives of the quadrilateral mechanism (Saudi Arabia, UAE, UK and US) also met on the margins of the UNGA to discuss the situation in Sudan and need for SAF and RSF to agree on a ceasefire, resume a political process and facilitate humanitarian aid. The second meeting of foreign ministers of Sudan’s neighboring countries was chaired by Egyptian Foreign Minister around the same time, also calling for a permanent ceasefire, inclusive intra-Sudanese dialogue and action to address the humanitarian situation. 

Meanwhile, in Addis Ababa, the Civil Front to End the War and Restore Democracy (a front established by the FCC-CC that includes Resistance Committees and trade unions) concluded a two-day meeting and accused both SAF and RSF of crimes against civilians, of prolonging the war and called for coordination among anti-war groups. On 25 September, Saudi Ambassador to Sudan stated that the League of Arab States has set up a joint Saudi-Egyptian committee to follow up on Sudanese affairs and that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has established a fund to support the rebuilding and reconstruction Sudan following the cessation of hostilities. On 25 September, the second two-day round of negotiations surrounding the Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) ended without any major developments.

Heavy clashes continued in Khartoum, Omdurman and Bahri – with RSF and SAF continuing to claim victories over one another and increasing the targeting of strategic locations. On Monday, 25 September, heavy artillery exchanges between SAF and RSF were reported in proximity of the army’s General Command. In Darfur, tensions remain high – fighting between SAF and RSF was reported in Zalingei (Central Darfur) and Nyala (South Darfur), while fighting between SAF and Arab militias was reported in Umkadada, North Darfur. Inte-tribal clashes were reported in Kubum, west of Nyala between the Beni Halba and Salamat communities. In El Fasher, North Darfur, the situation remains stable but tense, with reports of SAF recruiting new soldiers. The Sudanese Liberation Army- Abdul Wahid (SLA-AW), a non-signatory to the Juba Peace Agreement, has reportedly deployed standby forces nearby El Fasher to protect IDP camps. In Eastern Sudan, Beja leader reconciled with the Red Sea State military leaders following the clashes reported last week near Port Sudan. SAF recruitment continues to be reported in Blue Nile following the launch of three new recruitment centres.

Last month, field teams observed that the threshold of four million IDPs had been surpassed. Field teams currently estimate that 4,295,092 individuals have been newly displaced since the conflict began – with the caseload set to continue increasing in coming month in the absence of a resolution or a ceasefire in the coming period. Field teams have observed this caseload in 4,080 locations, across 167 of Sudan’s 189 localities, across all 18 states. Primarily, fighting between the warring parties has centred around urban areas, especially Khartoum, a historically peaceful city and now the epicentre of the conflict and displacement. IDPs from Khartoum totalling an estimated 2,911,641 individuals (68% of the total newly displaced) – have primarily sought refuge across Northern, River Nile, Sennar, and White Nile states. Overall, 45% of the IDP have sought refuge in the Darfur and Kordofan regions, whereas the majority (55%) have now been observed in the Northern, Eastern, and Central Sudan. DTM Sudan also estimates that approximately 2.83% of the IDP caseload are non-Sudanese nationals.

In addition to the internal displacement, the conflict in Sudan has caused the Mixed Cross-Border Movements of 1,190,633 individuals into neighbouring countries with Chad receiving the highest number, followed by Egypt, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Central African Republic and Libya. 67% of arrivals tracked in those countries were Sudanese nationals and an estimated 33% were foreign nationals and returnees. The majority of arrivals were reported in Chad (40.4%), Egypt (27.1%), and South Sudan (23.6%).

In her opening remarks at the UNGA High Level Ministerial Side Event “The Cost of Inaction in Sudan,” USG Rosemary Di Carlo condemned the violence in Sudan and shocking account of widespread rape and sexual violence. She continued by stating that political inaction has already exacted a heavy cost and pressure on warring parties to end the conflict must be increased.

IOM calls on all parties to ensure the safety of humanitarians and allow their unrestricted access to be able to assist those most vulnerable. IOM’s Response Overview for the Sudan Crisis and Neighboring Countries contributes to addressing the humanitarian needs inside Sudan and the complexities of a mixed move-ments response that is inclusive of the needs of internally displaced persons (IDPs), migrant returnees, third country nationals (TCNs), host communities, refugees and Government entities responding to the crisis. IOM’s planned response was coordinated with Governments and humanitarian partners.