KHARTOUM – The African Union, United Nations, European Union, Arab League and IGAD called for an end to external support fuelling Sudan’s war, as they condemned a deadly escalation in drone attacks across the country and urged an immediate halt to hostilities.
In a joint statement issued on Nov. 13, the five organizations, collectively known as the Quintet, said regional and international actors should use their influence to support de-escalation efforts rather than contribute to the conflict.
The statement did not identify countries or other external actors accused of providing military, financial or logistical support to the warring parties.
The Quintet said drone attacks had intensified across Khartoum, Darfur, Kordofan, Blue Nile, Gedaref, Al Jazirah, Sennar and Red Sea states, killing civilians and damaging critical infrastructure.
Power stations and health facilities have been among the sites affected, with electricity outages disrupting water supplies, healthcare and other essential services and complicating humanitarian operations.
The five organizations reiterated that there was no military solution to Sudan’s conflict and called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and an end to attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure.
They also urged regional and international actors to support ongoing mediation, including efforts by the Quad, to secure a humanitarian truce as a step toward a comprehensive ceasefire.
The Quintet stressed that attacks directed against civilians and civilian objects violate international humanitarian law and called for accountability for violations committed during the conflict.
The statement comes amid a sharp expansion in the use of drones in Sudan’s war, with attacks increasingly reaching areas far from traditional front lines and targeting electricity, fuel, health and other infrastructure.
The Quintet said civilians, particularly women and children, could no longer bear the consequences of continued military confrontation.
“The guns need to be silenced,” the statement said.
The five organizations also reaffirmed their support for Sudan’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity and rejected the establishment of parallel governments or political structures.
They said Sudan’s future should be determined through an inclusive, Sudanese-led and Sudanese-owned political process.
According to the statement, recent engagement by the Quintet with Sudanese political and civilian groups, including meetings in Khartoum, showed broad recognition of the need to end the war and address the underlying causes of Sudan’s recurring crises.
The Quintet said it was working with Sudanese stakeholders on a structured and inclusive political dialogue aimed at laying the foundations for lasting peace.
