Civilian calls from the Nuba Mountains

Civilian political forces in the Nuba Mountains called for an immediate cessation of fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), stressing the need to protect civilians and put an end to decades-long of immense suffering the people of the region endured due to issues of injustice and marginalization.

A number of political and civil bodies in the Nuba Mountains, including the Nuba Mountains Civil Forces Alliance, the Sudanese National Party, the Nuba General Council, the Nuba Mountains Women’s Association, the Nuba Mountains Lawyers Association, the Nuba Mountains Observatory for Human Rights, and the Nuba Sons Association in the Western Mountains, signed a Joint Statement, calling for an end to the war and the protection of civilians.

A joint statement issued by these forces on the occasion of the anniversary of the December Revolution and Sudan’s Independence shared that the Nuba Mountains are among the areas most affected by the war, as the suffering of its residents worsens with the continuation of the armed conflict.
The statement indicated that the region has been subject to deprivation of the most basic rights throughout its history, and despite the aforementioned reality, the Nuba people have remained loyal to the homeland.

The signatories of the statement emphasized their rejection of the continuation of policies that perpetuate marginalization and discrimination, holding the Sudanese government responsible for the deterioration of the region’s conditions and the disruption of basic services, including education.

The statement called on the Army and the Rapid Support Forces to stop all military operations and reach an agreement that would put an end to the suffering of citizens. Stressing the necessity of protecting civilians, ensuring freedom of movement between regions and cities, in addition to refraining from purposefully targeting residential areas with artillery shells or air strikes.

The signatory forces also called for the acceleration of the delivery of humanitarian aid process to the besieged areas in the neighborhoods of the capital, Khartoum, and urged the facilitation of passage for relief supplies by land following the rainy season.

The statement condemned the interference of the Security Services in the distribution of humanitarian aid and its subsequent use as leverage, demanding the immediate release of women and girls kidnapped during the attacks in the town of (Habila) last year, in addition to the release of detainees from the Nuba people without conditions.

The forces emphasized their rejection of the processes of arming citizens and the formation of militias in South Kordofan state, regarding this development as a threat to community peace.
Additionally, the statement held the government responsible for depriving students from the opportunity to take the postponed Certificate of Secondary Education (CSE) exams for the year (2023).

The Nuba Mountains forces confirmed that the opportunity to sign the statement is still available, reiterating their commitment to continue putting forth diligent efforts kn order to achieve these demands.

Officials in the Nuba Mountains region – which is under the control of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement, had previously announced that residents in parts of the Nuba Mountains had resorted to eating the leaves of some trees and locusts in order to survive due to the ongoing food shortages.