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The Security Council Security Council Situation Report 11 October 2024
Situation Report on Matters Pertaining to International Peace and Security
This update complements the background guide published in the AMUN Handbook. For a more comprehensive background on the issues presented in this update, please refer to the 2024 AMUN Handbook Security Council section. (Editorial Note: This information in this situation report is accurate and up-to-date as of 17 September, 2024).
The Situation in Sudan
In 2018, Sudan saw widespread protests break out against the long-time President Omar al-Bashir, who had ruled Sudan since the late 1980s. The protests, initially about the rising cost of bread and fuel, were met with a brutal crackdown by President al-Bashir’s security forces. The harsh response by President al-Bashir saw the protest goals expand to include removing him from office and instituting civilian rule. In 2019, following escalating clashes between protestors and security forces, the leadership of the Sudanese military overthrew President al-Bashir. The new military government promised the protestors they would act as a transitional government until free and fair elections could occur. As time passed, though, the military government did not hold elections, citing continued instability. During the transitional government, negotiations continued between the civilian protestors and the military government. The military government was unable to address the extremely high inflation rate or the instability around the country. Protests started again in October of 2021 and continued throughout 2022 and into 2023.
In April of 2023, fighting broke out between the two military groups, Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The SAF and RSF had previously been allied with each other and formed the military government that overthrew President al-Bashir. However, the alliance broke down over accusations that either side was trying to remove the other from power and influence in the transitional military government. The fighting escalated quickly, with an estimated 14,000 killed and over 8 million refugees fleeing to neighboring countries such as Egypt and Chad in the first year of the war. Within the first month of fighting,the capital of Khartoum was largely depopulated. Surrounding countries are struggling to support the influx of refugees: Egypt has deported at least 800 Sudanese refugees and Chad asked for support from other countries. However, some of the refugees in Chad rejected the aid because it was sent by the United Arab Emirates, which has been accused of supporting the RSF. Over a year after it began, the conflict has largely stalled, with documented cases of ethnic cleansing, starvation and widespread sexual violence against women on all sides. The Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM), based in Darfur, has tentatively aligned itself with the SAF to fight the RSF. The cooperation between the SLM and SAF occurred shortly after the RSF regained control of Darfur and restarted the violence from the early 2000s civil war where the predecessor to the RSF, the Janjaweed, were accused of genocide against the people of Darfur.
As of June 2024, an estimated 10 million people are internally displaced. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Food Program (WFP) have declared over 700,000 people in Sudan facing phase five famine on the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) scale with over 25 million estimated to be at phase three plus on the IPC scale, which is high levels of acute hunger. Humanitarian aid agencies have not been able to deliver aid reliably due to the active conflict. Famine is considered particularly severe in the city of al-Fasher in western Sudan due to the ongoing siege of the city by the RSF. In addition to the famine, there has been spread of diseases like malaria, measles and whooping cough.The latest United Nations fact-finding mission found both sides of the conflict have committed human rights violations against civilians and called for an arms embargo to be enacted. The United Nations Security Council renewed its arms embargo on 11 September 2024 in S/RES/2750(2024). The current military government, controlled by the SAF, has rejected the findings of the fact-finding mission and does not want the United Nations to intervene in any way.
Bibliography
Bartlett, Kate (15 April 2024). Sudan’s Conflict Hits the 1-Year Mark, Sparking Fears of Repeated Atrocities. NPR.
Brachet, Eliott (20 April 2023). In Sudan, Khartoum Transforms into a Ghost Town as Inhabitants Flee. Le Monde.
‘Catastrophic Toll’ as Sudan’s Warring Sides Refuse to Budge: MSF. (22 July 2024). Al Jazeera.
Chothia, Farouk (8 September 2024). Sudan Rejects UN Call for Peace Force to Protect Civilians. BBC News.
Copnall, James (17 April 2023) Sudan crisis: Burhan and Hemedti – the two generals at the heart of the conflict. BBC News.
Copnall, James and Danai Nesta Kupemba (17 November 2023). Sudan civil war: Darfur’s Jem rebels join army fight against RSF. BBC News.
de Waal, Alex (24 August 2024). Famine hits Sudan as peace talks fall short yet again. BBC News.
Elmileik, Aya (26 December 2018). What Prompted Protests in Sudan?. Al Jazeera.
The IPC Famine Fact Sheet. (December 2020). Integrated Food Security Phase Classification.
Malik, Nesrin (2 November 2021). Sudan’s Coup Has Shattered the Hopes of its 2019 Revolution. The Guardian.
Michaelson, Ruth (19 June 2024). EU-Funded Egyptian Forces ‘Rounding Up and Deporting Sudanese Refugees’. The Guardian.
Salih, Zeinab Mohammed (17 September 2024). We’ve Lost Everything: Inside a Sudanese Town Where Children Die of Hunger Everyday. The Guardian.
Sudan: Abusive Warring Parties Acquire New Weapons. (9 September 2024). Human Rights Watch.
Sudan Inflation Rate 1960-2024. (September 2024). Macrotrends.
Sudan Internal Displacement Set to Top 10 Million as Famine Looms – IOM. (6 June 2024). IOM UN Migration.
Sudan is Facing an Unprecedented Hunger Catastrophe, Say UN Agency Chiefs. (27 June 2024). UNICEF.
Sudan Liberation Movement Pledges to Fight Alongside Army Against RSF. (26 March 2024). France24.
Sudan unrest: What are the Rapid Support Forces? (16 April 2023). Al Jazeera.
Sudan Situation: Sudanese Refugees and Asylum Seekers. (15 September 2024). Reliefweb.
Sudanese refugees in Chad reject UAE aid, demand end to RSF support (16 September 2024). Sudan Tribune.
UN Documents
United Nations Security Council Resolution 2750. 11 September 2024.
The Situation in the Middle East
The Situation in Gaza
The conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza continues despite attempts to negotiate a ceasefire. Since the conflict began on 7 October 2023, an estimated 40,000 people in Gaza have been killed with approximately 70 percent being women and children. Although the estimates are from the Hamas-run Ministry of Health, the estimates are considered to be generally reliable. Due to the conflict, the humanitarian support systems provided by the United Nations in Gaza have largely collapsed. UN experts believe there is “no doubt” famine is occurring in Gaza, and in August a case of polio was detected for the first time in 25 years. A series of localized ceasefires between Israel and Hamas permitted the World Health Organization to provide the first round of polio vaccines,despite the difficulties of operating in a war zone. The localized ceasefires have not prompted wider ceasefires, with Israeli airstrikes hitting United Nations run shelters and areas designated by Israel as “safe zones”.
Over the spring and summer of 2024, the United States and regional partners – notably Egypt and Qatar – worked with Hamas and Israel to try and negotiate a long term ceasefire. As negotiations stalled, increasing focus was drawn to the influence of Israeli domestic politics on negotiations. In June 2024, two far-right members of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet threatened to withdraw support from his government if Prime Minister Netanyahu agrees to a ceasefire that does not feature the total destruction of Hamas. Further, an Israeli newspaper obtained documents that indicate in July 2024, Prime Minister Netanyahu attempted to derail the ceasefire negotiations by introducing new demands and going back on previously agreed terms.
Bibliography
At least 19 killed in Israeli strike on Gaza’s al-Mawasi ‘safe zone’ (10 September 2024). Al Jazeera.
Davies, Wyre and Kathryn Armstrong (17 August 2024). Gaza ceasefire progress is an illusion, says Hamas. BBC News.
Gaza death toll: how many Palestinians has Israel’s campaign killed? (15 August 2024). Reuters.
Guterres, Antonio (17 July 2024). Humanitarian Situation in Gaza ‘a Moral Stain on Us All’, Secretary-General Tells Security Council, Stressing International Law Must Be Respected by All. United Nations.
Humayun, Hira, and others (10 September 2024). Israeli soldiers rammed UN vehicles with bulldozer and fired shots before letting them go, says UN spokesperson. CNN News.
Israel bombs another UN-run school in Gaza, kills 18 Palestinians (11 September 2024). Al Jazeera.
Jamal, Urooba (10 July 2024). Has famine arrived in Gaza? UN experts say it has. Al Jazeera.
Krever, Mick, and others (4 September 2024). Netanyahu derailed a potential Gaza hostage deal in July, Israeli newspaper reports. CNN News.
Moench, Mallory (3 September 2024). WHO exceeds target for Gaza polio vaccinations as campaign continues. BBC News.
Rasgon, Adam (3 June 2024). Netanyahu’s Far-Right Partners Reject Cease-Fire Compromise. New York Times.
Situation Report on Matters Pertaining to International Peace and Security
This update complements the background guide published in the AMUN Handbook. For a more comprehensive background on the issues presented in this update, please refer to the 2024 AMUN Handbook Security Council section. (Editorial Note: This information in this situation report is accurate and up-to-date as of 17 September, 2024).
The Situation in Sudan
In 2018, Sudan saw widespread protests break out against the long-time President Omar al-Bashir, who had ruled Sudan since the late 1980s. The protests, initially about the rising cost of bread and fuel, were met with a brutal crackdown by President al-Bashir’s security forces. The harsh response by President al-Bashir saw the protest goals expand to include removing him from office and instituting civilian rule. In 2019, following escalating clashes between protestors and security forces, the leadership of the Sudanese military overthrew President al-Bashir. The new military government promised the protestors they would act as a transitional government until free and fair elections could occur. As time passed, though, the military government did not hold elections, citing continued instability. During the transitional government, negotiations continued between the civilian protestors and the military government. The military government was unable to address the extremely high inflation rate or the instability around the country. Protests started again in October of 2021 and continued throughout 2022 and into 2023.
In April of 2023, fighting broke out between the two military groups, Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The SAF and RSF had previously been allied with each other and formed the military government that overthrew President al-Bashir. However, the alliance broke down over accusations that either side was trying to remove the other from power and influence in the transitional military government. The fighting escalated quickly, with an estimated 14,000 killed and over 8 million refugees fleeing to neighboring countries such as Egypt and Chad in the first year of the war. Within the first month of fighting,the capital of Khartoum was largely depopulated. Surrounding countries are struggling to support the influx of refugees: Egypt has deported at least 800 Sudanese refugees and Chad asked for support from other countries. However, some of the refugees in Chad rejected the aid because it was sent by the United Arab Emirates, which has been accused of supporting the RSF. Over a year after it began, the conflict has largely stalled, with documented cases of ethnic cleansing, starvation and widespread sexual violence against women on all sides. The Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM), based in Darfur, has tentatively aligned itself with the SAF to fight the RSF. The cooperation between the SLM and SAF occurred shortly after the RSF regained control of Darfur and restarted the violence from the early 2000s civil war where the predecessor to the RSF, the Janjaweed, were accused of genocide against the people of Darfur.
As of June 2024, an estimated 10 million people are internally displaced. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Food Program (WFP) have declared over 700,000 people in Sudan facing phase five famine on the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) scale with over 25 million estimated to be at phase three plus on the IPC scale, which is high levels of acute hunger. Humanitarian aid agencies have not been able to deliver aid reliably due to the active conflict. Famine is considered particularly severe in the city of al-Fasher in western Sudan due to the ongoing siege of the city by the RSF. In addition to the famine, there has been spread of diseases like malaria, measles and whooping cough.The latest United Nations fact-finding mission found both sides of the conflict have committed human rights violations against civilians and called for an arms embargo to be enacted. The United Nations Security Council renewed its arms embargo on 11 September 2024 in S/RES/2750(2024). The current military government, controlled by the SAF, has rejected the findings of the fact-finding mission and does not want the United Nations to intervene in any way.
Bibliography
Bartlett, Kate (15 April 2024). Sudan’s Conflict Hits the 1-Year Mark, Sparking Fears of Repeated Atrocities. NPR.
Brachet, Eliott (20 April 2023). In Sudan, Khartoum Transforms into a Ghost Town as Inhabitants Flee. Le Monde.
‘Catastrophic Toll’ as Sudan’s Warring Sides Refuse to Budge: MSF. (22 July 2024). Al Jazeera.
Chothia, Farouk (8 September 2024). Sudan Rejects UN Call for Peace Force to Protect Civilians. BBC News.
Copnall, James (17 April 2023) Sudan crisis: Burhan and Hemedti – the two generals at the heart of the conflict. BBC News.
Copnall, James and Danai Nesta Kupemba (17 November 2023). Sudan civil war: Darfur’s Jem rebels join army fight against RSF. BBC News.
de Waal, Alex (24 August 2024). Famine hits Sudan as peace talks fall short yet again. BBC News.
Elmileik, Aya (26 December 2018). What Prompted Protests in Sudan?. Al Jazeera.
The IPC Famine Fact Sheet. (December 2020). Integrated Food Security Phase Classification.
Malik, Nesrin (2 November 2021). Sudan’s Coup Has Shattered the Hopes of its 2019 Revolution. The Guardian.
Michaelson, Ruth (19 June 2024). EU-Funded Egyptian Forces ‘Rounding Up and Deporting Sudanese Refugees’. The Guardian.
Salih, Zeinab Mohammed (17 September 2024). We’ve Lost Everything: Inside a Sudanese Town Where Children Die of Hunger Everyday. The Guardian.
Sudan: Abusive Warring Parties Acquire New Weapons. (9 September 2024). Human Rights Watch.
Sudan Inflation Rate 1960-2024. (September 2024). Macrotrends.
Sudan Internal Displacement Set to Top 10 Million as Famine Looms – IOM. (6 June 2024). IOM UN Migration.
Sudan is Facing an Unprecedented Hunger Catastrophe, Say UN Agency Chiefs. (27 June 2024). UNICEF.
Sudan Liberation Movement Pledges to Fight Alongside Army Against RSF. (26 March 2024). France24.
Sudan unrest: What are the Rapid Support Forces? (16 April 2023). Al Jazeera.
Sudan Situation: Sudanese Refugees and Asylum Seekers. (15 September 2024). Reliefweb.
Sudanese refugees in Chad reject UAE aid, demand end to RSF support (16 September 2024). Sudan Tribune.
UN Documents
United Nations Security Council Resolution 2750. 11 September 2024.
The Situation in the Middle East
The Situation in Gaza
The conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza continues despite attempts to negotiate a ceasefire. Since the conflict began on 7 October 2023, an estimated 40,000 people in Gaza have been killed with approximately 70 percent being women and children. Although the estimates are from the Hamas-run Ministry of Health, the estimates are considered to be generally reliable. Due to the conflict, the humanitarian support systems provided by the United Nations in Gaza have largely collapsed. UN experts believe there is “no doubt” famine is occurring in Gaza, and in August a case of polio was detected for the first time in 25 years. A series of localized ceasefires between Israel and Hamas permitted the World Health Organization to provide the first round of polio vaccines,despite the difficulties of operating in a war zone. The localized ceasefires have not prompted wider ceasefires, with Israeli airstrikes hitting United Nations run shelters and areas designated by Israel as “safe zones”.
Over the spring and summer of 2024, the United States and regional partners – notably Egypt and Qatar – worked with Hamas and Israel to try and negotiate a long term ceasefire. As negotiations stalled, increasing focus was drawn to the influence of Israeli domestic politics on negotiations. In June 2024, two far-right members of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet threatened to withdraw support from his government if Prime Minister Netanyahu agrees to a ceasefire that does not feature the total destruction of Hamas. Further, an Israeli newspaper obtained documents that indicate in July 2024, Prime Minister Netanyahu attempted to derail the ceasefire negotiations by introducing new demands and going back on previously agreed terms.
Bibliography
At least 19 killed in Israeli strike on Gaza’s al-Mawasi ‘safe zone’ (10 September 2024). Al Jazeera.
Davies, Wyre and Kathryn Armstrong (17 August 2024). Gaza ceasefire progress is an illusion, says Hamas. BBC News.
Gaza death toll: how many Palestinians has Israel’s campaign killed? (15 August 2024). Reuters.
Guterres, Antonio (17 July 2024). Humanitarian Situation in Gaza ‘a Moral Stain on Us All’, Secretary-General Tells Security Council, Stressing International Law Must Be Respected by All. United Nations.
Humayun, Hira, and others (10 September 2024). Israeli soldiers rammed UN vehicles with bulldozer and fired shots before letting them go, says UN spokesperson. CNN News.
Israel bombs another UN-run school in Gaza, kills 18 Palestinians (11 September 2024). Al Jazeera.
Jamal, Urooba (10 July 2024). Has famine arrived in Gaza? UN experts say it has. Al Jazeera.
Krever, Mick, and others (4 September 2024). Netanyahu derailed a potential Gaza hostage deal in July, Israeli newspaper reports. CNN News.
Moench, Mallory (3 September 2024). WHO exceeds target for Gaza polio vaccinations as campaign continues. BBC News.
Rasgon, Adam (3 June 2024). Netanyahu’s Far-Right Partners Reject Cease-Fire Compromise. New York Times.