Russia uses its veto against a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Sudan news

Russia used its veto power, on Monday, to drop a draft resolution in the United Nations Security Council calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities in Sudan and the protection of civilians from the conflict that has been tearing the country apart since April 2023.

The draft resolution called on the parties to “immediately cease hostilities and commit in good faith to a dialogue that would allow progress towards reducing the escalation with the aim of urgently agreeing on a nationwide ceasefire.”

The UN Security Council discussed a draft resolution prepared by Britain and Sierra Leone that called on the parties to “immediately cease hostilities and engage, in good faith, in a dialogue to agree on steps to calm the conflict with the aim of urgently agreeing on a nationwide ceasefire.”

He also called on both parties to “fully implement the commitments made in 2023 to protect civilians, stop and prevent conflict-related sexual violence, and allow rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access to and throughout Sudan.”

The draft resolution also called on member states to avoid any “external interference that provokes conflict and instability and urges all parties to respect the embargo on the transfer of arms to Darfur.”

The draft resolution asked UN Secretary-General António Guterres to consider a possible system for “monitoring and verifying the ceasefire.”

A power struggle broke out between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces in April 2023 before a planned transition to civilian rule, killing tens of thousands of people and displacing more than 11 million people, including more than 3 million who fled the country, according to UN figures. The United Nations reported that 26 million people in Sudan face severe food shortages.