The Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, has called for a cessation of hostilities in Sudan during the holy month of Ramadan.
The AU said in a statement on Friday that its chairperson “calls on the Sudanese parties to observe a total ceasefire throughout Sudan during the holy month of Ramadan.
Faki stressed that such a ceasefire during the holy month of Ramadan could help facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to civilians in need throughout the conflict-torn country.
He urged the parties to the conflict “to assume their responsibilities to prevent the Sudanese people and neighboring countries from facing serious risks of famine and other humanitarian disasters”.
Since April last year, there have been deadly clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces in Sudan.
Amid ongoing fighting in different parts of the country, Sudan is now home to the world’s largest internal displacement crisis, with 6.3 million people seeking safety within the country since the conflict began. A further 1.7 million people have fled to neighboring countries, according to the UN.
On Thursday, UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for a cessation of hostilities in Sudan during the holy month of Ramadan.
“Canceling hostilities during Ramadan can help stop the suffering and pave the way for sustainable peace. Let us spare no effort to support the Sudanese people in their legitimate aspirations for a nonviolent and secure future,” Guterres said.
