Relato integral dos debates

Terça-feira, 8 de Outubro de 2024 - Estrasburgo

16. A situação no Sudão (debate)

  Le Président. – L'ordre du jour appelle à présent la déclaration du vice-président de la Commission et haut représentant de l'Union pour les affaires étrangères et la politique de sécurité sur la situation au Soudan (2021/2851(RSP)). Je donne la parole, au nom du vice-président de la Commission et haut représentant de l'Union pour les affaires étrangères et la politique de sécurité, à la commissaire Věra Jourová.

  Věra Jourová, Vice-President of the Commission, on behalf of the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, – Mr President, honourable Members of the European Parliament, the conflict in Sudan has generated displacement at levels unseen since the war in Syria, with now 10.9 million internally displaced persons in Sudan and an additional 2.2 million people having crossed the border into the neighbouring countries, Sudan is the largest displacement crisis worldwide, surpassing even the scale of the crisis in Syria – in Syria, this is 13.1 million versus 12.3 million.

Close to 25 million people are in urgent need of humanitarian aid in Sudan. Due to the numerous access constraints, only a third of the people in need were able to receive some kind of humanitarian aid so far, which means 8 million. After over a year and a half of conflict, this is unacceptable. So far, since the reopening of the Adre border crossing on the 15 August –so it means for three months only – about 150 trucks entered Darfur. This is about ten times less than the total amount of trucks entering Gaza, for instance.

The responsibilities for this man-made calamity rests with the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, as well as their respective affiliated militias. Despite repeated tries to bring both parties to the negotiating table, the current escalation of the fighting coincides with the mutual rupture of talks by the generals and confirms that they have no political will to engage in serious discussions.

Two weeks ago, in the margins of the UN General Assembly in New York, High Representative and Vice-President Borrell participated in a ministerial meeting on Sudan following up to the April conference in Paris. Our collective call for a nationwide cessation of hostilities continues. The EU supports all meaningful efforts to put an end to the war.

The same goes for the need for strengthened pressure on those external actors providing support to the warring parties. The upcoming EU-Gulf Cooperation Council summit, mid-October, will be the opportunity to continue our diplomatic outreach, notably with the UAE, who have leverage with both belligerent parties. But we also want to look at concrete actions.

First, confidence-building measures and the protection of civilians and critical civilian infrastructures. Access and delivery of humanitarian aid remain paramount. This is important not only for Sudan but also the neighbouring countries. The establishment of safe havens and protecting humanitarian routes should urgently be put in place. We will be working with the United Nations and the African Union in this regard.

Second, a robust mechanism for compliance with the laws of war is still lacking. All responsible actors must be identified and held accountable for the atrocities they have committed and continue to commit. This cannot go on. The era of impunity must end. The EU supports the principle of additional sanctions against those in leadership positions who obstruct humanitarian operations and the return to a democratic transition.

Finally, the transition to civilian rule remains the ultimate objective. The EU has consistently supported civilians in Sudan, and we remain a trusted convening platform. There is some progress in amalgamating civilian groups, but we are slowly helping to unify them. They will be the drivers for change of the post-war Sudan.

Mr President, honourable Members, the situation in Sudan remains catastrophic. Together with our international partners, we are mobilised to align our efforts to end the war now.

  Lukas Mandl, im Namen der PPE-Fraktion. – Herr Präsident, Frau Kommissarin, liebe Kolleginnen und Kollegen! Dass das Europäische Parlament die Krise im Sudan diskutiert, um zu Lösungen beizutragen, zeigt den geopolitischen Zuschnitt dieses Parlaments und durchaus auch den geopolitischen Anspruch der Europäischen Union. Wenn wir über ein Europa mit mehr Stärke nach außen und mehr Freiheit nach innen sprechen, dann bedeutet das letztlich auch, dass wir ein verlässlicher Partner sind auf dieser Welt für all jene, die zur Lösung von Krisen beitragen wollen, für all jene, die Menschenwürde und Freiheitsrechte in den Vordergrund stellen. Und die Betonung liegt hier auf der Verlässlichkeit der Europäischen Union. Man soll sich darauf verlassen können, dass wir beitragen. Die Europäische Union ist mit Abstand die größte Entwicklungshelferin dieser Welt, wie die Fachsprache oft sagt. Wir sind stark in der soft power, in der Entwicklungshilfe. Wir sind noch schwach in der hard power, aber es wird daran gearbeitet, schon seit einigen Jahren, und wir werden hier besser.

Im Sudan geht es aber nicht um Entwicklungshilfe im engeren Sinn. Es geht um humanitäre Hilfe, von jetzt auf gleich, in der Sekunde, wo Menschen leiden, wo Menschen Hunger leiden, wo es eine Nahrungsmittelkrise – aber menschengemacht durch Konflikt und Krieg, menschengemacht – gibt, wo besonders Frauen und Kinder leiden und wo wir besonders hinblicken müssen. Und das ist der zweite Grund dafür, dass es eine starke Aussagekraft hat, dass das Europäische Parlament sich mit dieser Krise befasst: weil sie medial und in der öffentlichen Wahrnehmung in Vergessenheit zu geraten droht, weil die Aufmerksamkeit auf der unmittelbaren Krise in Europa, in der Ukraine liegt, weil die Aufmerksamkeit medial täglich im Nahen Osten liegt.

Aber im Sudan leiden Menschen, und das ist für diese Menschen schlimm, aber es ist für Europa relevant, wenn es um irreguläre Migration geht, wenn es um Destabilisierung geht. Es ist im Interesse aller, den Konflikt zu beenden und den Menschen zu helfen.

  Francisco Assis, em nome do Grupo S&D. – Senhor Presidente, Senhora Vice-Presidente, a guerra civil no Sudão tem sido tratada pela comunidade internacional quase como uma nota de rodapé no livro negro dos conflitos mundiais, apesar de ser hoje um dos mais mortíferos conflitos. Há que ter consciência de que essa postura nos expõe a críticas – e a críticas justas.

Passam hoje 541 dias desde o início da guerra civil. Há dezenas de milhares de mortos. O cortejo de atrocidades é longo: execuções arbitrárias, limpeza étnica, violência sexual, tortura, sequestros, destruição de infraestruturas críticas. Há 10 milhões de pessoas deslocadas no interior do Sudão, o número mais elevado do mundo, e vários milhões de refugiados nos países vizinhos. A violência, a doença e a fome são o dia a dia dessas pessoas. Metade da população precisa de assistência urgente.

Creio que a prioridade máxima, neste momento, deve ser criar condições para que a ajuda humanitária chegue às populações em sofrimento. A União Europeia tem contribuído financeiramente para essa ajuda, mas isso é pouco perante um conflito desta dimensão.

Em agosto, falharam as tentativas de negociação de um cessar-fogo patrocinada pelos Estados Unidos. É preciso continuar a tentar. E é preciso que a União Europeia entre em campo, que procure canais de diálogo entre as forças que se guerreiam, bem como possíveis mediadores regionais. É também necessário apelar ao Conselho de Segurança da ONU para agir e apelar ao Tribunal Penal Internacional para concluir as suas investigações. Os responsáveis pelas atrocidades não podem ficar impunes.

A comunidade internacional e a União Europeia não podem considerar o Sudão um caso perdido. Oxalá pudéssemos, aliás, dedicar ao Sudão uma pequena fração do tempo, da comoção e da indignação que, justamente, dedicamos a outras zonas do mundo.

África não pode ser um eterno esquecido.

  Barry Andrews, on behalf of the Renew Group. – Mr President, Commissioner and colleagues, in my opinion, nothing more clearly exemplifies how European development policy is off track than what has happened in Sudan over the last five years. In 2019, a very brief window opened where the potential for Sudanese democracy to develop occurred, and the opportunity to invest in the political economy of reconciliation and making and helping democracy to happen was missed. So by 2021, it was almost too late. Then we had an opportunity for cancellation of a massive amount of debt in Sudan, but it was too late. So now we have a tragic situation.

Global Gateway is the big idea in European development. But, of course, Global Gateway has nothing to do with Sudan. Global Gateway can work. So what we have to do is concentrate on fragile countries that are impacted by climate, by conflict and by the situation we see in Sudan.

It is true that there was a ministerial at the UN General Assembly, but it was completely ineffective. And we all know that aid budgets have been slashed across the European Commission and EU Member States, and we will pay a price for that.

  Ana Miranda Paz, on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group. – Mr President, Vice-President, the situation in Sudan is a human tragedy and the situation continues to deteriorate, kill and injure. Eight million people are displaced within Sudan and 2.4 million have crossed borders to neighbouring and other countries. Starvation, famine, violation of human rights and obstruction of humanitarian assistance – a disaster.

Sudan is alone. We need to do more efforts for the application of international humanitarian law to help the Sudanese people suffering in this dramatic situation. We can help the country in the protection of civilians, abuses, and obstruction of humanitarian assistance. Also in the support to the International Criminal Court Prosecutor's investigation into apparent war crimes and other atrocities in Darfur, and ensure that the EEAS, the US Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa, and the Council raise serious violations in the context of ceasefire and humanitarian access talks and ensure that there is provision for robust monitoring as well as accountability for violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law.

  Per Clausen, for The Left-Gruppen. – Hr. formand! Tragedien i Sudan er ikke mindst ubærlig, fordi det er ikke mere end fem år siden, at der faktisk var et momentum for demokrati i Sudan. Befolkningen gik på gaden for at kræve en fremtid med demokrati og menneskerettigheder. Det blev tabt på gulvet. Det gjorde det også, fordi EU svigtede den sudanesiske befolkning. På det tidspunkt var der ikke vilje til at støtte befolkningen i deres oprør mod magthaverne. Der var heller ikke vilje, til at skabe et internationalt pres, for befolknings ønske om demokrati. Og nu er så befolkningen i Sudan kastet ud i en forfærdelig borgerkrig. Omkring 160 000 mennesker døde i borgerkrigen. Over fem millioner mennesker er sendt på flugt. Civilbefolkningen mangler adgang til mad, vand og adgang til lægehjælp. Menneskerettighedsorganisationer har kunne dokumentere etnisk udrensning, tortur, seksuel vold og forbrydelser mod menneskeheden. Det er krigsforbrydelser, ingen mennesker skal udsættes for, og jeg synes, det er vigtigt at understrege, at EU må ikke svigte befolkningen i Sudan igen. Vi skal gøre alt, hvad vi kan for at skabe en våbenhvile, mulighed for en demokratisk udvikling. Det handler om at forstærke og udvide våbenembargoen og indføre de nødvendige sanktioner. Vi skal sende et signal til civilbefolkningen, der klart og tydeligt siger: vi ser jer, vi ser jeres tab, vi ser jeres lidelse. Og vi svigter jer ikke igen.

  Tomasz Froelich, im Namen der ESN-Fraktion. – Herr Präsident! Hungerkatastrophen, Armut, Vertreibungen, Christenverfolgungen und Massenmigration – der Sudan ist in einem katastrophalen Zustand. Das ist nichts Neues, das war zu Zeiten von Omar al-Baschir so, und das hat sich bis heute nicht geändert. Als al-Baschir abgesetzt wurde, jubelten viele zivilgesellschaftliche Gruppen, die Studenten im Sudan, aber auch der Westen. Nur: Der Westen hat einen Fehler gemacht: Man hat Proteste unterstützt, um die Autokraten im Sudan vom Hof zu jagen – irgendwie verständlich, aber man hat sich keine Gedanken darüber gemacht, wer sie wirklich ersetzen könnte.

Seither herrscht im Sudan noch größeres Chaos. Die vom Westen unterstützte Übergangsregierung ist längst Geschichte, abgelöst von einer Militärregierung, die der Iran stützt. Diese Militärregierung wiederum wird von Milizen herausgefordert, die mit den Emiraten verbündet sind. Während Teheran und Abu Dhabi im Sudan Realpolitik machen, spielt Europa bei alledem leider keine Rolle. Dabei könnten wir das, als ehrlicher Makler für die Konfliktparteien, als realpolitische Kraft, die eigene Interessen in der Region verfolgt, nämlich den Schutz unserer christlichen Glaubensbrüder, den Kampf gegen den Terror und die Bekämpfung von Massenmigration nach Europa.

  Ingeborg Ter Laak (PPE). – Voorzitter, collega’s, seks in ruil voor eten: het is de realiteit van veel Sudanese vrouwen. Een realiteit die wij ons niet voor kunnen stellen. Maar we mogen er ook niet voor wegkijken. Wanneer de toegang tot humanitaire hulp en tot levensmiddelen niet vanzelfsprekend is, is dit de enige uitweg om je kinderen te kunnen voeden in Sudan.

Al anderhalf jaar is het burgeroorlog. Grove mensenrechtenschendingen zijn aan de orde van de dag. Zowel het regeringsleger als de RSF blokkeert en plundert humanitaire hulp. Tien miljoen mensen zijn uit hun huizen verdreven en nog eens vijfentwintig miljoen mensen hebben dagelijks honger.

Voordat de oorlog uitbrak, was de VN nog een gesprekspartner en bemiddelaar tussen beide partijen om toegang voor hulporganisaties te bewerkstelligen. Bij de vredesonderhandelingen onder leiding van de Verenigde Staten in augustus kwamen beide partijen niet eens opdagen. Een staakt‑het‑vuren verdwijnt steeds verder uit het zicht.

Het is belangrijk dat Europa zich richt op toegang tot humanitaire hulp voor alle Sudanezen. Dit gebeurt aan de rand van ons continent. Het gebeurt aan de rand van Europa. We moeten voorkomen dat miljoenen mensen overlijden door een gebrek aan schoon drinkwater, voedsel en medische hulp.

  Marit Maij (S&D). – Voorzitter, mevrouw de commissaris, collega’s, een van de grootste mensenrechtenschendingen van deze tijd heeft nu plaats in Sudan. Vele, vele Sudanezen zijn slachtoffer van misdaden tegen de menselijkheid. Kinderen kunnen niet naar school gaan. Seksueel geweld tegen vrouwen en meisjes is endemisch en miljoenen mensen lopen het risico om te sterven van de honger. Er is onvoldoende internationale hulp en — zoals u ook al aangaf — een deel van die hulp wordt ook nog geblokkeerd.

Dat er geen woorden zijn om het onmenselijk leed van de Sudanese gemeenschap te beschrijven, kan en mag niet betekenen dat de internationale gemeenschap niets doet. Sudanezen voelen zich door de internationale gemeenschap in de steek gelaten in deze — zo lijkt het — vergeten oorlog. We mogen niet wegkijken, we moeten een vuist maken tegen dit geweld. De lidstaten en de Europese Commissie kunnen drie dingen doen:

1) Ervoor zorgen dat de blokkades voor humanitaire hulp worden opgeheven en er voldoende hulp is daar waar mensen afhankelijk zijn van die hulp om te kunnen overleven.

2) De sancties moeten worden uitgebreid, onder andere tegen die specifieke organisaties en personen die verantwoordelijk zijn voor deze mensenrechtenschendingen.

3) De hoge vertegenwoordiger heeft gezegd dat de EU niet zal wegkijken en niet getuige zal zijn van nóg een genocide. Ik hoop dan ook dat hij tijdens de komende top tussen de Europese Unie en de Golfstaten zich uitspreekt tegen de landen in die regio die deze oorlog faciliteren en financieren. Dat zou ook een goede stap zijn om de oorlog te kunnen stoppen.

  Hanna Gedin (The Left). – Herr talman! Över 10 miljoner sudaneser är på flykt inom landet, 70 % av befolkningen riskerar svält – människor som du och jag.

Men låt oss också tala om elefanten i rummet: hur EU i sin iver att lägga ut flyktingmottagandet på entreprenad till andra länder riskerar att göda konflikter och grova brott mot människor.

Det finns många påståenden om att EU-pengar gått till just Rapid Support Forces. Vi har sett det med Libyen och vi har sett det med Tunisien: hur EU finansierar våld i syfte att hindra människor från att ta sig hit, helt utan hänsyn till människorna man skadar eller vilka grupper man finansierar.

Det här måste få ett slut. Inga fler migrationsuppgörelser.

  Maria Walsh (PPE). – Mr President, leaders across the globe are failing to heed the desperate cries of hunger in Sudan. Young children are starving to death in the world's largest humanitarian crisis. As many as 150 000 people have been killed by fighting. More than 10 million have fled their homes, and 25 million people are at risk of hunger. Famine has been declared in Darfur, the only place in the world where a full-scale famine has been declared in years. Some estimate that 2.5 million citizens could die by the end of the year. Yet the world has barely responded.

What makes this even more incomprehensible is that this region is the breadbasket of East Africa. There is no natural reason for there to be a famine here. This crisis of hunger and starvation is entirely man-made. Access to life-saving food is being weaponised by both sides. The two parties are constantly blocking access through theft, attacks on aid convoys, bureaucratic red tape and arbitrary permit denials. Aid trucks can wait up to six weeks or more to be clear for onward travel.

In Sudan, hunger has been turned into a weapon of war. The number one priority must be ensuring an end to the crisis of hunger through the passage of aid. The EU can and must create a space for both parties to negotiate access for food. Until aid flows safely, the cries of hunger will continue.

  Hannes Heide (S&D). – Mr President, dear Commissioner, what happens in Sudan will not stay within Sudan. It will have an impact on the whole Sahel region and spread further into Europe and the rest of the world. This is what I said in plenary shortly after the outbreak of the civil war 17 months ago. In the meantime, the situation has dramatically worsened.

We are witnessing one of the greatest humanitarian catastrophes in the world. More than 26 million people – half of the population – are starving. Some 70 % of health facilities in conflict‑affected areas are out of service. We mourn 15 000 fatalities since April 2024. Ten million people have been displaced, two million of them in predominantly fragile neighbouring countries. Since the war in Congo more than 20 years ago, no conflict in Africa has had such a large geopolitical dimension as that in Sudan.

The United Arab Emirates have been supplying the RSF militia in Chad with weapons under the guise of medical supplies, Chad's President Mahamat Idriss Déby confirmed, and he recently signed a military agreement with Hungary. Sudan's army, backed by Iran, is locked in a dead-end conflict with the RSF.

Today's Council decision to extend the restrictive measures against those undermining stability in Sudan was necessary. While recent Geneva negotiations initiated by the USA made little progress, humanitarian access has been partially restored. We urge the conflicting parties to engage in direct talks for a peaceful resolution, and the European Union must take an active role. We must support all efforts to bring hope and stability to the people of Sudan.

  Evin Incir (S&D). – Mr President, the situation in Sudan is urgent: millions of people are facing unprecedented suffering due to the ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis since the outbreak of the armed conflict, and especially the recent escalation in Khartoum and El Fasher. The humanitarian impact is one of the worst in the world. Over 10.9 million people have been driven from their homes, and out of them, 2.9 million have fled to neighbouring countries. Access to food, water and healthcare is severely limited and the most vulnerable, including women and children, bear the brunt of this crisis.

We should enhance our humanitarian aid effort, ensuring that assistance reaches the most in need, in particular women and children. We must also advocate for an immediate ceasefire and support a peaceful resolution to the conflict. Women are playing a key role in local peace and mediation efforts, and we stand in solidarity with them as part of the social-democratic feminist foreign policy.

Furthermore, we must hold accountable those who perpetrate violence against civilians and violate international humanitarian law. We can do so by supporting the ICC Prosecutor's investigation into apparent war crimes and other atrocities in Sudan. There is also a critical need to strengthen civilian protection mechanisms and programmes in the country.

  Cecilia Strada (S&D). – Signor Presidente, onorevoli colleghi, negli ultimi cinque anni ci sono stati due golpe in Sudan. Lo scontro tra le forze armate sudanesi e i paramilitari delle forze di supporto rapido è ormai diventato un conflitto sanguinoso che non risparmia la popolazione civile inerme. Lo conferma anche l'ultimo rapporto della missione istituita dal Consiglio dei diritti umani dell'ONU. Entrambe le parti sono responsabili di crimini di guerra e gravissime violazioni dei diritti umani. Perciò dobbiamo sostenere il lavoro della Corte penale internazionale in vista di auspicabili mandati di arresto per i responsabili di queste atrocità.

Ho molto apprezzato la recente dichiarazione dell'Alto rappresentante che condanna l'escalation a Al-Fāshir, la zona del Darfur in teoria sottoposta all'embargo internazionale sugli armamenti, ma in pratica inondata di armi, che molte organizzazioni riconducono a compagnie registrate in Cina, in Russia, Serbia ed Emirati Arabi Uniti. A questi ultimi, in vista dell'imminente summit di cooperazione tra l'Unione e gli Stati del Golfo, spero che l'Unione chieda con forza di rispettare l'embargo, pena la sospensione di rapporti commerciali e sanzioni per chi lo viola.

Infine, secondo il Programma alimentare mondiale, più di 20 milioni di persone stanno soffrendo fame e malnutrizione acuta, in particolar modo i bambini. Credo siano queste le priorità per la comunità internazionale. Cessate il fuoco e porte aperte all'aiuto umanitario.

Interventions à la demande

  Seán Kelly (PPE). – A Uachtaráin, this is not the first time we have debated Sudan here in the European Parliament. It's ongoing, unfortunately, and the situation isn't getting better. Indeed, every Sunday in my home parish of Fossa in Killarney, the parish priest, Father Geaney, prays for those in the most troubled parts of the world. And he usually mentions Ukraine, the Holy Land, as he calls it – the Middle East, and Sudan. And that will give an indication of the scale and breadth of the problems in Sudan.

I agree with previous speakers like Ms Incir, who said that we certainly must do more in the European Union to give humanitarian aid here so that the sufferings of those people can be alleviated, but obviously work harder at getting a solution in the long term. Peace and stability in the country is the only way to end suffering in the long term. The European Union can lead and hopefully lead more into the future so our parish priest won't be including Sudan in the troubled places in the world.

(Fin des interventions à la demande)

  Věra Jourová, Vice-President of the Commission, on behalf of the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, – Mr President, honourable Members, the debate today testifies your continued interest and engagement on Sudan. Let me stress once again on behalf of the High Representative and Vice-President, Joseph Borrell, that the European Union will continue its diplomatic outreach and our messages are very clear.

Immediate cessation of hostilities and secured humanitarian access. Second, urging for the respect of international humanitarian law and the protection of civilians. Third, putting the political process back on track. All efforts, properly coordinated, are welcomed to seek ways to support dialogue and mediation in order for a return to a civilian-led transition. And finally, external actors should refrain from fuelling the conflict.

The people of Sudan deserve freedom, peace and justice, which they have been aspiring to since their revolution began in 2019. The EU reaffirms the steadfast support and solidarity with the Sudanese people in view of their better future. We encourage the European Parliament to continue its engagement with Sudan and the region.

  Le Président. – Merci beaucoup, le débat est clos.