Sudan’s civil war, ongoing for almost 18 months, has left nearly 25 million people in need of humanitarian aid. The United Nations fact-finding mission to Sudan has called for an independent force to protect civilians amid the ongoing violence. Sudan had a peacekeeping presence until early 2024, but efforts to deploy a new mission faced obstacles, with both sides of the conflict denouncing the call. While the UN would need consent to sanction a peacekeeping mission to the country, some stakeholders have argued it is not required, given the Sudanese authorities’ role in 2021’s coup. Nevertheless, deploying a full-scale peacekeeping mission is unlikely. However, targeted protection could be feasible, such as creating “green zones” for displaced persons and aiding humanitarian access. A potential option includes an African Union-led mission, supported by the UN, to monitor rights violations and provide security to the country’s civilians.
SOURCE: THE CONVERSATION
