STATEMENT: The Elders are appalled at the ongoing human suffering in Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Leaders must act now to ensure that civilians - including humanitarian workers - are protected, and that peace negotiations are accelerated, guided by principles of justice and human rights.  

In Sudan, the overwhelming evidence of atrocity crimes in recent weeks, linked to the assault on the city of El-Fasher by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), should compel all parties to the conflict and their sponsors to change course. Famine has been declared and 21 million people across the country are facing high levels of acute food insecurity.  

External parties who have been exacerbating the conflict should immediately end any breaches of the UN arms embargo and comply fully with their international obligations. 

The main belligerents must be pushed to agree to the three-month humanitarian truce proposed by the “Quad” grouping of the United States of America, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Saudi Arabia. We also urge the parties to enter technical talks with the UN on de-escalation and civilian protection.  

The current levels of suffering and violations of rights in Sudan are horrific. The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has reported gang rapes of women in El-Fasher by RSF forces. The International Criminal Court must be supported to investigate atrocities by all parties and hold the perpetrators accountable.   

UN Security Council Resolution 1820, passed 17 years ago, sought to enshrine a zero-tolerance approach to conflict-related sexual violence. Yet these horrible crimes remain both pervasive and unpunished in Sudan, the DRC, and conflicts elsewhere.  

The Elders are profoundly disturbed at the worsening human cost of the conflict in the eastern DRC. A quarter of the population is facing food insecurity, and nearly 6 million people are internally displaced due to conflict and insecurity. Conflict-related sexual violence has exploded: a woman is a victim of sexual and gender-based violence every 4 minutes and a child every half hour.  

Rwanda must comply with UN Security Council resolution 2773 addressing the conflict, notably its provisions calling for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, the withdrawal of Rwanda Defence Forces from DRC territory without preconditions, and dismantling of illegitimate parallel administrations established by M23. The DRC Government in Kinshasa must also fulfil its obligations to ensure civilian protection. It is high time to hold perpetrators accountable to end the vicious cycle of violence and impunity.  

We welcome the peace efforts of the USA, Qatar, and the African Union. Peace negotiations must have respect for national sovereignty, human rights, and justice at their core, rather than commercial interests. 

The world has ignored the far-reaching humanitarian consequences of these two conflicts for far too long. How the international community responds now is a test of our common humanity. 

ENDS

Juan Manuel Santos, former President of Colombia, Nobel Peace Laureate and Chair of The Elders 

Graça Machel, Founder of the Graça Machel Trust, Co-founder and Deputy Chair of The Elders  

Gro Harlem Brundtland, former Prime Minister of Norway and former Director-General of the WHO 

Helen Clark, former Prime Minister of New Zealand and former head of the UN Development Programme 

Elbegdorj Tsakhia, former President and Prime Minister of Mongolia 

Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights 

Hina Jilani, Advocate of the Supreme Court of Pakistan and co-chair of the Taskforce on Justice 

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, former President of Liberia and Nobel Peace Laureate 

Denis Mukwege, physician and human rights advocate, Nobel Peace Laureate 

Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland and former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights 

Ernesto Zedillo, former President of Mexico 

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