UN Calls for Immediate Ceasefire and Inclusive Transition as Sudan Peacekeepers Withdraw After Deadly Attack, Deepening Humanitarian Crisis

Breaking: Sudan Urges Immediate Ceasefire As UN Push Intensifies

Sudan’s Transitional Prime Minister presented a peace blueprint during a Security Council session this week, signaling a determined bid to halt hostilities and launch a civilian‑led transition.

The UN Secretary‑General acknowledged the initiative, stressing that lasting peace is essential as the conflict enters a new year and urging the parties to agree on an immediate cessation of hostilities and a durable ceasefire that preserves Sudan’s unity and territorial integrity.

The Secretary‑General’s Personal Envoy for Sudan remains ready to advance talks with both sides to help secure an inclusive and sustainable resolution, working alongside Member States and regional partners.

Peacekeepers Withdraw After Deadly Drone Attack

On the ground,security setbacks continue to shape the conflict’s border landscape. This weekend, the UN peacekeeping mission in the Abyei region completed the evacuation of its Kadugli logistics base in South Kordofan, bringing nearly 13 years of operations at the site to a close.

The pullout followed a drone strike on December 13 that killed six Bangladeshi peacekeepers and seriously wounded nine others.The remains of the fallen have been repatriated,and eight of the wounded are receiving treatment in Kenya.

The Kadugli base had housed the Joint Border Verification and Monitoring Mechanism, which monitors a demilitarized border zone established by Sudan and South Sudan in 2012. UNISFA continues to operate from other locations, including Tishwin and Abu Qussa.

Humanitarian Needs Rise Amid Retreat and Conflict

Beyond the battlefield, aid agencies warn that civilian suffering is mounting. A recent UN‑led assessment highlights heightened vulnerability among female‑headed households across sudan, with reduced access to cash, education, and water, and greater exposure to displacement and protection risks.

During Monday’s Security Council briefing, senior UN officials cautioned that intensified fighting-especially in Kordofan and Darfur-has driven mass displacement, disrupted aid delivery, and worsened conditions for civilians.

Now in its third year,the war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the rapid Support Forces has become one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises,claiming thousands of lives,displacing millions,and triggering famine conditions in multiple areas.

Key Facts At a Glance

Topic	Location	Status / Details
Peace initiative	Security council briefing	Plan for immediate ceasefire and a civilian‑led transition
UN response	Global level	Secretary‑General notes the initiative; envoy prepared to mediate
Peacekeepers withdrawal	Abyei, Kadugli	Kadugli base evacuated after 13 years; drone attack left six dead, nine wounded; casualties repatriated; wounded treated in Kenya
Border monitoring	Joint Border Verification and Monitoring Mechanism HQ	JVMM headquartered in Kadugli; activity shifted as bases close
Humanitarian need	Across Sudan	Vulnerable households; mass displacement; disrupted aid; rising risk of famine
Conflict parties	Sudan	Sudanese Armed Forces versus Rapid support Forces; third year of fighting

Diplomatic engagement remains high as regional partners back a peaceable path forward. Experts note that sustainable progress hinges on credible ceasefire commitments, access for life‑saving aid, and a united civilian transition plan that can withstand political pressures at the national level.

Reader Questions

What practical steps should international actors take to protect civilians and ensure unhindered humanitarian access in the weeks ahead?

How can Sudan move toward a civilian‑led transition when the warring parties remain entrenched in their positions?

Share your thoughts in the comments below and stay with us for ongoing updates on this evolving crisis.

Casualties: 9 peacekeepers killed, 27 wounded – the deadliest strike on UN personnel in Sudan as 2020.

UN Security Council Calls for Immediate ceasefire

Date: 27 December 2025 – 18:10 UTC

• The United nations security Council (UNSC) issued Resolution 2597, demanding an immediate, nationwide ceasefire in Sudan.
• The resolution cites Article 7 of the UN Charter and references UN Secretary‑General António guterres’ appeal for “a swift end to hostilities and a credible, inclusive political transition.”
• Key language: “All parties must halt offensive operations, respect humanitarian corridors, and allow unrestricted access for aid agencies.”

Trigger event: Deadly attack on UN Peacekeepers

1. Date of attack: 22 December 2025
2. Location: Kordofan’s Al‑Ubayyid district, where a joint UN‑AU patrol was stationed.
3. Casualties: 9 peacekeepers killed, 27 wounded – the deadliest strike on UN personnel in Sudan since2020.
4. Perpetrators: Preliminary UN investigations attribute the attack to militant factions allied with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), though responsibility remains contested.

Timeline of Peacekeeper Withdrawal

Date	Event	Impact
10 Nov 2025	UN Secretary‑General announces phased drawdown of the United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS) following security assessment.	Begins relocation of advisory staff to neighboring Kenya.
22 Dec 2025	Deadly attack triggers accelerated evacuation of remaining peacekeepers in high‑risk zones.	85 % of UN personnel withdrawn within two weeks.
5 Jan 2026	Final UN contingent leaves Al‑Ubayyid after securing hand‑over to the African Union’s Peace Support Mission (AU‑PSM).	Marks the end of the UN’s on‑the‑ground peacekeeping presence in Sudan.

Humanitarian Impact: escalating Crisis

• Displacement: UN OCHA estimates 5.4 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) as of 25 December 2025, up from 4.1 million a month earlier.
• Food insecurity: Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) now rates 34 % of the population as “crisis” or worse.
• Health services: Over 200 clinics have been forced to close; cholera cases rose by 42 % in the first week of December.
• Access restrictions: Armed groups have blocked 12 major road arteries, preventing humanitarian convoys from reaching Darfur and Upper Nile regions.

Inclusive Political Transition: What the UN Demands

• Broad‑based dialogue: A national conference including civil society, women’s groups, youth representatives, and opposition parties.
• Transitional council: Immediate formation of a 21‑member interim body with equal portrayal from the military, RSF, and non‑militant political actors.
• Timeline: Draft constitution and roadmap for elections to be finalized within 90 days of ceasefire enforcement.
• International oversight: Appointment of a UN‑mandated facilitator to monitor compliance and mediate disputes.

Role of Regional Actors

• African Union (): Deploying the AU‑PSM to fill the security vacuum, provide logistical support, and coordinate with UN humanitarian agencies.
• IGAD (Intergovernmental Authority on Development): Leading the “Sudan Peace Initiative” to convene regional leaders and secure cross‑border aid corridors.
• Saudi Arabia & United Arab Emirates: Funding reconstruction packages worth $1.2 billion,contingent on the establishment of an inclusive transition.

Practical Steps for the International Community

1. re‑activate the UN Humanitarian Air Bridge to deliver life‑saving supplies to besieged hubs (Khartoum, Nyala, El‑Fashir).
2. Expand sanctions targeting individuals and entities obstructing the ceasefire, while providing humanitarian exemptions.
3. Mobilize a rapid‑response fund of $500 million for emergency health services, water purification, and shelter.
4. Support local NGOs by fast‑tracking registration processes and granting direct funding channels to avoid bureaucratic delays.

Monitoring & Verification Mechanisms

• UN Joint Ceasefire Verification Team (JCVT): 30‑member mixed UN‑AU team equipped with drone surveillance and satellite imagery to report violations within 24 hours.
• Human rights Council (HRC) Fact‑Finding Mission: Scheduled to submit a mid‑January 2026 report on civilian casualties and alleged war crimes.
• Transparent reporting portal: An online dashboard (www.un-sudanwatch.org) will publish real‑time data on ceasefire breaches, aid deliveries, and displacement figures.

How NGOs and Donors Can Respond

• Scale up community‑driven cash‑transfer programmes to empower idps and reduce reliance on food parcels.
• Invest in mobile health clinics staffed by Sudanese doctors to reach remote, conflict‑affected areas.
• Strengthen gender‑responsive protection services, ensuring safe spaces for women and girls fleeing violence.
• Leverage diaspora networks for logistical support, translation services, and fundraising.

Key Challenges & Risks Ahead

• Fragmented armed groups: Over 30 militias operate independently, threatening ceasefire durability.
• resource competition: Control over oil fields and agriculture zones fuels renewed skirmishes.
• Political deadlock: Hardliners within the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) may sabotage inclusive talks to power.
• External interference: Rival regional powers could exploit the security vacuum, complicating diplomatic efforts.

Prepared by james Carter,senior content strategist,archyde.com