Great Lakes Summit Urges UN Security Council to Condemn RSF Militia

Great Lakes Summit Urges UN Security Council to Condemn RSF Militia The ninth Great Lakes Heads of State Summit concluded in Kinshasa with a final communiqué calling on the UN Security Council to condemn the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia. Sudan’s delegation was led by Member of the Transitional Sovereignty Council (TSC) and Assistant to the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Lt. Gen. Eng. Ibrahim Jabir, alongside senior government and security officials. The communiqué addressed regional security and defense, issues affecting women and children, social development, and measures to protect mineral resources from being used to fund militias and rebel groups. Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ambassador Muawiya Osman Khalid said the summit endorsed recommendations from the ministerial council and defense and security ministers to classify the RSF as a terrorist organization. He added that the summit instructed the Executive Secretariat to mobilize support within the UN Security Council and the African Union to condemn RSF atrocities against civilians and ensure accountability. The summit also adopted controls on the use of precious minerals— including Sudanese gold — to prevent their exploitation in financing the RSF militia. Lt. Gen. Jabir delivered Sudan’s address in the closed session, outlining the nature of the conflict, RSF violations against civilians, and recent developments after the militia’s attack on El-Fashir. He welcomed the strong supportive positions of Great Lakes states and the summit’s steps toward enhancing security, peace, and stability in Sudan. TSC Member reiterated Sudan’s call for coordinated regional efforts to counter external interference in member states’ internal affairs.