Statement by H.E. Sanita Pavļuta-Deslandes at the UN Security Council briefing on Sudan
New York, 16 October 2026
Madam President,
I thank Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo for her briefing.
On 26 October, we will mark one year since El Fasher fell to the Rapid Support Forces. During and after the city’s capture, the RSF committed horrific atrocities, including mass killings and widespread sexual violence. The warning signs were clear, but did not lead to effective action.
Today, the relentless pursuit of a military solution continues to claim lives across Sudan, including through deadly drone attacks, and threatens to deepen instability across the region.
Latvia reiterates its call on the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces to cease hostilities immediately.
Against this backdrop, let me make three points.
First, we must sustain diplomatic momentum and translate it into progress.
Latvia strongly supports the Quintet’s continued efforts to advance an inclusive, Sudanese-led and Sudanese-owned political process. We welcome the expanding consultations, from Berlin to Addis Ababa and, most recently, the September visit to Khartoum.
The priority now is to translate these consultations into a credible inter-Sudanese political dialogue in which women, youth and civil society are meaningfully involved in shaping its agenda and outcomes. We also fully support the continued engagement of the Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy, Pekka Haavisto.
The Council must give its backing to these diplomatic efforts. Strengthening the 1591 sanctions regime is part of that response. Latvia remains convinced that its geographical scope should be expanded beyond Darfur, alongside stronger implementation of the existing measures.
Sanctions alone will not deliver peace. However, a credible sanctions regime can raise the cost of atrocities and obstruction of peace efforts.
Second, civilian protection cannot wait for a ceasefire or political agreement.
Continuing attacks on civilians and critical civilian infrastructure underline the urgent need for effective protection measures. All parties must comply with international humanitarian law. Attacks directed against civilians and civilian objects are prohibited and may constitute war crimes. Accountability for crimes committed is imperative.
Condemnation is necessary. But it is not, by itself, a protection strategy. Collectively we need to identify practical measures to prevent further atrocities, particularly where civilians face the greatest risks.
We welcome the ongoing efforts of the European Union, together with the ICRC, to develop a memorandum of understanding on protecting critical civilian infrastructure, alongside other confidence-building measures. We urge the parties to engage constructively and show the flexibility needed to reach an agreement without delay. That requires clear commitment and action.
The protection of women and girls must be central to our efforts, and women themselves need to be empowered to shape them. Local women-led organisations play a critical role in identifying protection risks, supporting affected communities and assisting survivors. They must be meaningfully involved and adequately resourced.
Preventing and responding to conflict-related sexual violence is an integral part of civilian protection. Such violations must carry consequences. Latvia therefore supports the explicit inclusion of conflict-related sexual violence as a designation criterion under the 1591 sanctions regime.
Third, the war in Sudan is no longer simply a conflict with regional consequences. It is becoming increasingly entangled with other crises in the region, aggravating existing tensions even as those tensions fuel the war in return. This creates a cycle of instability that risks becoming ever harder to break.
This trajectory is not inevitable. Yet external support to the warring parties is deepening the crisis. We call on all external actors to stop fuelling the fighting and support coordinated diplomatic efforts to prevent further atrocities against civilians and avert further regional escalation.
Madam President,
We must not lose sight of those paying the highest price – the people of Sudan. Their protection, dignity and future remain at the heart of Latvia’s approach to this conflict.
I thank you.