The United Nations Security Council is set to address the worsening situation in Sudan in a meeting slated for Monday, April 17, after initial discussions with regional partners and UN staff. Reports from TASS, citing a source within the world body, indicate that the council will review Sudan alongside matters related to Yemen as part of its agenda. The talks will take place behind closed doors and are expected to focus on humanitarian access, political stability, and the risk of broader regional spillovers.
Officials familiar with the process note that the United Nations Security Council will continue to monitor developments in Sudan closely, translating the assessments from ongoing field missions into policy discussions. The conversations will likely cover a range of pressing issues, from ceasefire observance and humanitarian corridors to protection of civilians and the integrity of ceasefire agreements. The ultimate aim is to align UN diplomacy with the needs of the Sudanese people and help moderate actors to restore a path toward democratic governance.
In recent months Sudan has witnessed shifts in military leadership and command structures that have generated uncertainty about the chain of command and the disposition of long-standing security forces. A decree reportedly issued by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the chair of the Transitional Sovereign Council and commander-in-chief of the armed forces, called for changes within elite units and the dissolution of certain rapid-response formations. This move has been interpreted by observers as an attempt to reassert formal control over security operations and to redefine the balance of political power within the country.
Late on the night of Thursday, April 13, Sudanese security authorities announced that the deployment of rapid-response units in Khartoum and several other cities had occurred without the coordination typically expected with the national armed forces. The notification raised questions about the timing and legitimacy of such deployments and suggested a potential misalignment between competing security factions amid the current political transition.
According to a source linked to Al Jazeera with insight into military deliberations, the armed forces are actively countering attempts to seize control of the command headquarters for specialized units. The report adds that tensions are pinpointed around key command centers, where loyalty and command authority are being tested during a period of strategic realignment and political maneuvering.
On the other side, members of the Riot Forces Command issued a formal statement revealing surprise when armed forces entered their tents at camps in Soba, Khartoum. The assertion describes surrounding actions and aggressive measures taken against personnel stationed at those sites, highlighting the fragility of security arrangements and the potential for escalations that could affect civilian safety in urban centers and displaced-persons settlements alike. Citations: UN officials and regional analysts continue to emphasize the need for de-escalation and urgent humanitarian access to affected populations, even as political factions navigate shifting loyalties.