Russia was the only country on Friday to abstain from a United Nations Security Council resolution calling on Sudan’s warring sides to agree to a ceasefire during the month of Ramadan.
Fourteen countries adopted the motion in favour of a ceasefire in Sudan to coincide with the fasting month, which is expected to begin on Monday, March 11.
The war, which has claimed thousands of lives, displaced millions from their homes and plunged the country into a humanitarian crisis, erupted in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
The UN Security Council called for the resolution of the conflict through dialogue.
It urged the SAF and the RSF “to ensure the removal of any obstructions and enable full, rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access, including cross-border and crossline, and comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law, including to protect civilians and civilian objects”.
Also on Friday, Russia and China abstained from voting in another council resolution renewing sanctions against several Sudanese individuals and entities for a further.
The sanctions were set to expire next Tuesday.
The measures include an arms embargo, travel bans and assets freeze against several armed groups and individuals in the war-wracked African nation.
