UN chief, concerned about spreading conflict, calls for Ramadan truce in Sudan

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged the warring parties in Sudan to agree to halt hostilities during Ramadan, with the Security Council negotiating a British-drafted resolution for a truce, Reuters reported.

Addressing the 15-member Security Council, Guterres said: “This cessation of hostilities must lead to a definitive silencing of the guns across the country, and set out a firm path towards lasting peace for the Sudanese people.”

UN officials are concerned the conflict poses a risk of regional instability, warning that nearly 25 million people in Sudan are already in dire need of aid, with severe hunger plaguing some 18 million Sudanese.

Guterres emphasized the urgent need for peace and humanitarian assistance in the country, highlighting reports that children are dying from malnutrition.