South Africa Calls for Peace as South Darfur Bleeds: “There Can Be No Military Solution”

DIRCO urges urgent talks as civilians face starvation, violence, and destroyed health care in war-ravaged Sudan

In a world where news cycles often move faster than the tragedies they report on, South Darfur has slipped under the radar, but the suffering on the ground has only deepened. Now, South Africa is stepping forward, calling for an end to the violence and a return to the negotiation table.

The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) has made a public appeal for peace in Sudan, citing a damning report by Doctors Without Borders (MSF) that lays bare the scale of devastation in South Darfur.

“This war has pushed people to the edge,” said Chrispin Phiri, spokesperson for DIRCO. “There is no military solution. Peace must be pursued for the sake of the innocent.”

A Region Left in Ruins

The MSF report is a gut-punch to anyone still under the illusion that the war in Sudan is “far away.” The reality is stark: hospitals abandoned or bombed out, food systems broken, and basic protections for civilians simply gone.

MSF has treated over 10,000 malnourished children and hundreds of sexual violence survivors in the region many of whom now have nowhere safe to turn. According to the report, over half of the sexual assaults were committed by armed actors, and there are no functioning justice mechanisms to hold perpetrators accountable.

“Sexual violence is being used as a weapon of war,” said Ozan Agbas, MSF’s emergency manager for Sudan. “People are living with fear in their homes, on their farms, on the roads. And those who make it to hospitals often find there’s no care left to give.”

From Warzone to Wasteland

The war, which escalated rapidly after April 2023, has turned once-thriving communities into hollowed-out ghost towns. Aid groups have mostly withdrawn due to safety concerns, and while the frontline combat may have cooled, the chaos hasn’t.

Air strikes and drone attacks continue to hit civilian areas. Reports of arbitrary arrests, theft, looting, and intimidation remain widespread. The healthcare system, already fragile, has collapsed entirely in many towns, forcing people to rely on makeshift remedies or nothing at all.

SA’s Diplomatic Voice: Loud, but Can It Be Heard?

DIRCO’s statement may seem like a standard diplomatic plea, but within Africa, South Africa’s voice carries weight. As a country that’s grappled with post-conflict reconstruction and reconciliation, its call for peace talks taps into a shared continental struggle.

“We stand in solidarity with the innocent people of Sudan,” Phiri said. “This war has caused untold suffering, and it must come to an end.”

On South African social media, reactions to DIRCO’s stance were mixed. Some praised the move:

“It’s about time African countries speak up for each other. We need African solutions to African problems,” posted one user on X.

Others were more skeptical:

“Solidarity is nice, but what’s the plan? Statements won’t stop bombs or feed starving kids.”

The Bigger Picture: A Crisis Ignored

What’s perhaps most tragic about the crisis in South Darfur is how quietly it’s being allowed to spiral. Media coverage is minimal, international diplomatic engagement is inconsistent, and many South Africans are unaware that a humanitarian disaster is unfolding just a few thousand kilometres to the north.

Sudan’s civil war isn’t just “someone else’s problem.” Its fallout has regional implications, from refugee movements to trade disruption to extremist group exploitation.

By issuing this call, South Africa is not just offering moral support. It’s reminding the world and especially African nations—that we cannot afford to ignore each other’s pain.

A Call for Compassion and Action

With MSF and other aid groups stretched to the limit, and political solutions still elusive, the people of South Darfur remain trapped. South Africa’s message is clear: enough suffering, enough silence.

Whether or not the international community listens is another story. But for now, at least, South Africa is speaking out for peace, for justice, and for the everyday people who’ve been left behind.

{Source: The Citizen}

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