Sherwin Bryce-Pease

The United Nations Secretary General’s Personal Envoy on Sudan has reiterated the view that there is no military solution to the civil war that has destroyed large swathes of the country and killed tens of thousands since fighting broke out in April 2023. The Security Council expressed alarm earlier this week at reports of substantial military reinforcements by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) around El Obeid and the risk of a potential ground offensive on the city.

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has unanimously adopted a resolution seeking to strengthen mechanisms for accountability for crimes against UN peacekeepers. At least seven peacekeepers have been killed in 2026, all part of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon where they were caught up in the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. United Nations figures point to nearly 4 500 peacekeepers having died since peacekeeping operations began in 1948, with 59 fatalities recorded in 2025 alone.