Sudan Rejects UN Call for Peacekeeping Force

Sudan has rejected a United Nations fact-finding mission's call for an independent and impartial force to protect civilians amid a brutal 17-month conflict between the army and the Rapid Support Forces. The UN mission reported harrowing violations by both sides, including mass rape, ethnically motivated killings, and other acts that may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity. Over 20,000 people have been killed and more than 13 million displaced, creating the world's largest displacement crisis. The Sudanese government, under General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, criticized the recommendations and emphasized that protecting civilians remains a priority. The conflict has devastated infrastructure, including healthcare facilities, and has drawn in neighboring countries, some of which are accused of supplying weapons. The UN experts also recommended expanding an arms embargo on the entire country, currently limited to the Darfur region.