MEPs from across the political divide have adopted a strongly-worded joint motion for a resolution on the escalation of the war and the humanitarian catastrophe in Sudan.

The move came on Thursday (27 November) in Strasbourg where MEPs have been meeting this week.

Most deputies were unified in calling for a ceasefire and “accountability for those responsible for war crimes and possible genocide.”

Following the vote, several mainstream political groups issued statements on the ongoing critical crisis in Sudan.

The Greens/EFA Group called for unrestricted humanitarian access to aid convoys while the S&D Group urged “robust action to stop the war and provide humanitarian assistance.”

Renew Europe, meantime, demanded immediate targeted sanctions against RSF and SAF commanders, “including Generals Burhan and Hemedti, and their external enablers.”

MEPs had earlier this week debated the dire situation in Sudan which has spiralled out of control in recent weeks.

Socialist members said they had voted in favour of the resolution “given the need for a strong message to the Sudanese people condemning violence in El Fasher and across the country.”

The text, they noted,

“omits some of the key reasons and actors responsible for the conflict.”

The statement by the S&D group stated that,

“We deplore that the resolution fails to explicitly mention the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and its role in fuelling the war in Sudan. This was a crucial demand for the S&Ds since credible investigations have indicated that external actors, notably networks operating from or through the UAE, have supported the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) through financing and arms supply, thereby violating the UN arms embargo and EU restrictive measures.”

It goes on,

“It is nonetheless positive that, following an S&D amendment, the final resolution calls for assessing whether the conduct of the RSF in Sudan could meet the criteria for terrorist offences and terrorist groups under EU law.

This was a key request from the S&Ds based on the RSF’s deliberate and systematic attacks on civilians, including sexual violence, the use of starvation as a weapon, terror tactics and efforts to destabilise Sudan.”

Marit Maij, S&D coordinator of the Delegation to the OACPS-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly and S&D negotiator on the resolution, said,

“We all feel outrage over the war in Sudan and feel solidarity with the Sudanese people, where starvation and sexual and gender-based violence, including rape, are being used as a weapon of war.

We need to step up humanitarian assistance, pressure for access to aid, and to establish protected humanitarian corridors and safe evacuation routes.”

The MEP added, “However, solidarity is not enough. We know who fuels this war, and those – directly and indirectly – responsible must be held accountable. Credible investigations have clearly indicated that external actors, notably networks operating from or through the UAE, have supported the RSF, which has perpetrated mass atrocities in the country. It’s a disgrace that the EPP teamed up with the far right to deny this reality, and didn’t even dare to mention the UAE in the resolution.

“We in the S&D Group call on UAE authorities to stop fuelling the war in Sudan. We urge the Commission and the HR/VP to address this in all relevant EU-UAE frameworks, and we call on the Commission to suspend trade negotiations until the UAE ceases its involvement in the war in Sudan,”

she continued in the statement.

“A genuinely civilian-led transition is the only viable path forward toward sustainable peace in Sudan. In particular, women-led organisations must be central to the peace talks, and must lead the transition process.”

Further comment comes from Greens/EFA and Volt MEP Nela Riehl, shadow rapporteur for the resolution, who said,

“What is happening in Sudan is a humanitarian catastrophe made worse by foreign interference.”

“We cannot stay silent while external powers, including the United Arab Emirates, continue to fuel this war with arms, money and mercenaries. The flow of arms has to stop. Women and girls are facing rape, sexual slavery and forced marriage on a horrific scale and gender based violence is being used as a weapon of war – as many international observers see clear signs of a genocide in the making.

We must press for an immediate ceasefire, open humanitarian corridors and hold the perpetrators accountable.”

Hilde Vautmans (Open-VLD, Belgium), Renew spokesperson for foreign affairs warned: “In the aftermath of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, we must confront a brutal truth: in Sudan, rape and gender-based violence continue to be used systematically as weapons of war. Europe cannot remain silent. We must urgently scale up humanitarian aid, open access for lifesaving assistance, and push for an expanded arms embargo and targeted sanctions.

“Europe must also support an independent investigation into the atrocities committed in Sudan, as well as the role of external actors. All perpetrators and those who support them must be held to account.

Sudan is living through a dark chapter, and Europe has a responsibility to act, not with words, but with concrete measures.”

In the resolution adopted on Thursday, Renew Europe calls for the opening safe humanitarian corridors to El Fasher, Kadugli, and El-Obeid under UN and AU monitoring, and urges the EU to maintain its €273 million humanitarian commitment.

Renew Europe said reiterates the urgent need for survivor-centred support for victims of conflict-related sexual violence “and demands full accountability for all perpetrators.”

Renew MEP Barry Andrews (Fianna Fáil, Ireland), chair of the committee on development stressed the need for consistency:

“We must use all our leverage to bring about sustainable peace. It is unacceptable that while one part of the EU prioritizes Sudan, another ignores the UAE’s role in the conflict. We need a clear investigation into how European arms are reaching Darfur.”

The Renew statement said,