- Accuses UAE of Fuelling Conflict
THE AFRICAN Regional Organisation of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC-Africa) has issued a strong condemnation of the escalating atrocities in Sudan, following the capture of the city of El-Fasher by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
The organization is appealing for an immediate ceasefire and a robust regional response to end the violence and restore peace.
In a statement released from its headquarters in Lomé, and signed by its General Secretary, Akhator Joel Odigie, ITUC-Africa described the fall of El-Fasher, the last major army stronghold in the Darfur region, after an 18-month siege as a “devastating turning point” for Sudan’s unity and stability.
The capture, which occurred between October 26 and 28, 2025, consolidates RSF control over most of Darfur, the statement said.
Citing “credible reports” from the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR), Amnesty International, and international media detailing “appalling violations” in the wake of the RSF’s advance, ITUC-Africa said these violations include mass killings, sexual violence, and torture of civilians.
Critical infrastructure, including hospitals and humanitarian facilities, has been attacked, leading to mass displacement and a severe lack of access to food, water, and medical care for thousands. ITUC-Africa asserts that these acts constitute “grave breaches of international humanitarian and human rights law.”
Beyond the immediate human cost, the statement highlights the crisis’s profound impact on Sudan’s social and economic fabric. The collapse of governance and destruction of infrastructure have crippled economic activity and cross-border trade.
Workers are identified as among the worst affected, having lost lives, family members, livelihoods, and social protection. The statement notes that public servants have gone unpaid for months, informal traders have seen their markets ruined, and industrial areas remain idle under military control.
ITUC-Africa also warns that the “erosion of labour institutions and suppression of trade-union freedoms” has silenced a vital voice for democracy and reconstruction, thereby undermining Africa’s pursuit of inclusive growth and social justice.
It specifically called out the United Arab Emirates (UAE), accusing it of “active and wicked facilitation and supply of weapons to the RSF.”
It urged the international community to end its silence and “tacit enabling” of the UAE, demanding an immediate ceasefire and encouraging all parties to embrace “genuine dialogue.”
Emphasising the need for a coordinated continental strategy, ITUC-Africa stressed that the African Union (AU) and Regional Economic Communities like IGAD and COMESA must “act decisively” to mediate an inclusive, Sudanese-led dialogue.
The statement insisted that trade unions, women’s movements, youth organizations, and other civil society actors must be fully included in any peace process to ensure a people-centred transition grounded in “justice, equity, and sustainable development.”
Expressing unwavering solidarity with Sudanese workers, trade unions, and all victims of the violence, ITUC-Africa asserted: “There is no military solution to Sudan’s crisis. Only genuine dialogue, accountability, and social justice can deliver lasting peace. The people of Sudan deserve to live, work, and organise in freedom and dignity. Africa must not stand by — the time for concerted action is now.”
