UN chief warns Sudan war is spiraling out of control after paramilitary seizure of el-Fasher

Speaking at a U.N. summit in Qatar, Guterres urged for an immediate ceasefire in the two-year conflict, which has left tens of thousands dead and millions displaced. “Hundreds of thousands of civilians are trapped by this siege,” he said. “People are dying of malnutrition, disease, and violence. We continue to receive reports of gross violations of international humanitarian law and human rights.”

The U.N. chief said there were credible reports of mass executions following the RSF’s takeover of el-Fasher, including ethnically targeted killings and sexual assaults. The paramilitary force, which besieged the city for more than 18 months before capturing it last week, has been accused of killing over 450 people in a hospital and carrying out atrocities against civilians.

While the RSF denies responsibility, eyewitness accounts, satellite images, and footage shared online paint a harrowing picture of widespread devastation. Humanitarian organizations say access to the region remains severely restricted, with communications nearly cut off.

“The crimes being committed are horrendous,” Guterres said. “We must ensure accountability and halt the flow of weapons into Sudan. The international community must unite to stop the fighting.”

The war, which erupted in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the RSF, has plunged the nation into chaos. More than 40,000 people have been killed, according to U.N. estimates, though aid agencies believe the actual toll is far higher. Over 14 million people have been forced from their homes, with famine and disease now spreading across several regions.

Two areas in Sudan are already suffering catastrophic hunger, with aid agencies warning that the famine could expand without immediate humanitarian access.

“It is clear that we need a ceasefire in Sudan,” Guterres emphasized. “We need to stop this carnage that is absolutely intolerable.”