UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for Sudan Ramatane Lamamra met with senior government officials during his recent visit to Sudan. Among them was General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the top commander of the Sudanese armed forces and head of the Transitional Sovereign Council.
The UN envoy also visited Ethiopia where he met with a delegation of the Paramilitary Forces (RSF) in the capital Addis Ababa.
Ramatane Lamamra expressed hope for an end to the violent conflict after his visit and emphasized the important role of the United Nations in maintaining peace in the country.
This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.
UN News: What progress has been made in your visit?
Lamamra in Ramtan: I am excited by the support my mission has received. Sudanese officials pledged to work closely with the United Nations and be part of the Secretary-General’s efforts to bring peace to Sudan.
I reiterated the UN’s strong desire to end the suffering of Sudanese citizens and ensure stability, security, democratic governance and development.
I cannot speak of significant progress at this point, but we will continue our work to bring all parties closer to a peaceful solution. The only option for us is to continue our efforts.
The war in Sudan has displaced millions, many of whom have also reached neighboring Chad.
UN News: Have you met with civil society representatives, women’s groups and what was discussed during these discussions?
Lamamra in Ramtan: I have spoken several times with representatives of Sudanese civil society. It is important to engage with diverse representatives of Sudan’s political and civil society sectors, including women, youth and other marginalized voices.
They are the ones who are bearing the burden of this heartbreaking war that can no longer be borne.
Ending this unbearable suffering is a top priority for the citizens of Sudan. At the same time, we must continue our efforts to end this war and pursue an inclusive and credible political process.
A Sudanese refugee sits with her three-month-old twins at a UNICEF-supported breastfeeding and nutrition awareness center in eastern Chad.
UN News: Despite the efforts of the UN and other regional organizations, this violent conflict has been going on for the past 20 months, with no end in sight. What kind of changes are needed to progress towards a ceasefire?
Lamamra in Ramtan: The time has come to put an end to this violent conflict, which has continued for too long and is causing suffering to Sudanese citizens.
All parties must put the interests of Sudanese citizens first and understand that there can be no military solution to this war. We have learned this from history.
Ending this bloodshed requires a ceasefire that paves the way for a negotiated settlement, an inclusive process led by Sudanese citizens to preserve Sudan’s unity. If not, this war will have dire consequences for Sudan and the entire region.
I personally do not understand how April next year will mark two years of this war, yet massive, collective pressure has not been applied to the aggressors by dominant countries and others.
This pressure should also have been prolonged on foreign parties who provided arms and equipment and harbored military illusions at the cost of understanding and values of a peaceful solution necessary for the unity and territorial integrity of Sudan.
I will continue my efforts with all concerned to do our best to move towards a common goal. Sudanese citizens deserve it.