'The Elders' condemn atrocities in Sudan, DRC
Dakar, Senegal (PANA) - The Elders, an independent group of global leaders working for peace, justice, human rights and a sustainable planet, founded by the late South African president Nelson Mandela in 2007, have condemned the ongoing human suffering in Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the group urged the countries' leaders to “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.
The statement said 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, it noted.
“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 statement said.
It added that 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.
The Elders also urged 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 statement said. “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,” it added.
The statement noted that 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.”
Turning to DRC, the The Elders said they are “profoundly disturbed” at the worsening human cost of the conflict in the east of the country.
“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.”
The Elders asked Rwanda to 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, the statement said, adding it is high time to hold perpetrators accountable to end the vicious cycle of violence and impunity.
The Elders welcomed the peace efforts of the USA, Qatar, and the African Union, saying 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,” the Elders said.
The group's vision is a world where people live in peace, conscious of their common humanity and their shared responsibilities for each other, the planet and future generations; where there is universal respect for human rights; where poverty has been eliminated and people are free from fear and oppression, and able to fulfil their true potential.
-0- PANA MA 19Nov2025
