NEW YORK CITY: Kajsa Ollongren, the EU special representative for human rights, has warned that Sudan is enduring “atrocities beyond imagination,” urging all countries supplying arms to the warring factions to immediately halt transfers.
Speaking to Arab News following missions to Lebanon and Egypt and a human rights dialogue with Saudi Arabia, Ollongren said foreign weapons are fueling one of the world’s most devastating and under-reported conflicts, with no political resolution in sight.
Her comments came shortly after Volker Turk, the UN high commissioner for human rights, issued one of his starkest warnings yet that Sudan faces “another wave of atrocities,” with civilians facing ethnic cleansing and mass displacement.
Turk has repeatedly cautioned that the violence could reach “catastrophic levels” if the flow of weapons continues. Ollongren said these warnings match what she has heard from regional human rights personnel.
“The atrocities are really beyond your imagination,” she told Arab News. “For a long time, the world did not pay enough attention to what was happening in Sudan. We are paying attention now, at least, but attention alone will not stop it.”
She said that governments enabling the conflict must be confronted. “There also has to be genuine interaction with those countries providing weapons. Without those weapons, we would see an end to the atrocities sooner … It’s unacceptable.”
She said coordinated pressure from Europe, the Gulf, and the wider international community is essential. “It’s very important, at the Gulf level, in Europe, and globally, to call for a stop to arms exports,” she added.
The conflict in Sudan began in April 2023 when a power struggle between armed forces chief Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan and his former deputy Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, head of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, erupted into open conflict.
About 12 million people have been displaced, according to UN figures, creating what many consider to be the world’s worst humanitarian catastrophe. Death toll estimates vary widely, with the former US envoy for Sudan suggesting as many as 400,000 have been killed.
Although the Sudanese Armed Forces have reclaimed the capital, Khartoum, from the RSF, the country is effectively bisected, with the SAF-led government controlling the east and the RSF and allied militias dominating the west, including the troubled Darfur region.
October produced one of the most brutal episodes of the conflict, when RSF fighters captured El-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, and began slaughtering civilians, triggering mass displacement.
Sudan has returned to the diplomatic spotlight following Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s recent visit to Washington, where he discussed developments with US President Donald Trump and urged a more active role in ending the conflict and preventing regional spillover.
Soon after, Trump announced that the US would “immediately start a new effort” to end the conflict in Sudan, which he described as “the most violent place on Earth and the single biggest humanitarian crisis” — a move widely interpreted as a response to the crown prince’s appeal.
“The fact that the president of the US comments this way about the atrocities is important, and it will be heard in Sudan,” Ollongren said.
But she cautioned that declarations alone are meaningless without serious follow-through. “It’s not enough to just declare an end to a war or conflict,” she said. “There has to be a plan — one that includes reconstruction, accountability, and rebuilding societies while empowering the victims.”
Turning to Lebanon, Ollongren said she sensed “momentum” during her recent meetings in Beirut, where diplomatic engagement has accelerated since the ceasefire in the Israel-Hezbollah war a year ago.
This comes despite Israel’s refusal to withdraw from southern Lebanon and its continued strikes against suspected Hezbollah positions, including last month’s attack on a Beirut neighborhood that killed a militia commander.
Hezbollah’s leaders insist they will not disarm until Israel withdraws its troops.
“There is momentum for more peace and stability and for a stable future for many countries in the region,” Ollongren said. “I see the role that Saudi Arabia is taking in all of this, and also Egypt’s efforts to negotiate between parties.”
Still, she emphasized the fragility of the situation. “There is still uncertainty about whether the ceasefire is being violated, and there is not yet a clear plan to disarm Hezbollah,” she said.
“Accountability is crucial. In Lebanon, we talked a lot about political assassinations and the Beirut port explosion. All of that has to be addressed with justice, because without it impunity persists, which can lead to further issues in the future.”
On Syria, which she plans to visit early next year, Ollongren said the situation remains unstable.
“We’ve seen violence and casualties in several parts of the country. It is not under control,” she said, referring to attacks on ethnic and religious minorities over the past year since the Assad regime was forced from power.
Although she welcomed the recent return of Syrian refugees from Lebanon as “a good sign,” she cautioned that broader stabilization remains distant as the transitional government of President Ahmad Al-Sharaa pursues national reintegration and sanctions relief.
Ollongren also highlighted Saudi Arabia’s growing diplomatic influence as one of the most significant shifts in the region. “Saudi Arabia is taking a different path,” she said, referencing Vision 2030 reforms and the Kingdom’s expanded global engagement.
“Saudi Arabia is also engaging with Europe and the EU, establishing ties that could be very important for a more stable Middle East.
“Of course, this also recalibrates the influence of other powers. Egypt has played a longstanding role but is struggling with its economy and population pressures. Saudi Arabia’s engagement could be very impactful.”
On Gaza, Ollongren described “complete destruction” and extremely limited access as challenges for media and humanitarian efforts. “We have not had independent journalists able to report on casualties or destruction,” she said.
“Bit by bit, more is coming out, and we see complete destruction in many parts of Gaza. People have no homes to return to and have lost a huge number of civilians, including children. There must be accountability.”
Israel launched its military operations in Gaza after the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on southern Israel, which killed 1,200 people and in which 250 were taken hostage. Since then, about 70,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to the Gaza health ministry.
A fragile ceasefire came into force on Oct. 10, with Israeli forces scaling back operations in exchange for Hamas releasing its remaining hostages. A small flow of humanitarian aid has been allowed into the territory, but medical, nutritional, and shelter needs remain immense.
Ollongren emphasized that accountability for alleged war crimes committed by both sides must be secured through the International Criminal Court.
“The ICC should play a role in this,” she said. “They have looked at both Hamas and Israel. That is the right place to seek justice and accountability.”
Asked whether European states support ICC arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense minister, Yoav Gallant, Ollongren said: “We are signatories to the Rome Statute, so we are bound by the treaty.
“The court decides on arrests, cases, and prosecutions independently. Our role is to ensure its independence and continued functioning. So yes.”
A growing number of legal scholars, including a UN independent international commission of inquiry, have concluded that genocide has taken place in Gaza over the past two years.
Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories, recently told Arab News that EU and Western responses to the genocide in Gaza have been “pathetic, hypocritical, and shaped by double standards.”
She said that the same governments invoking international law to condemn Russia’s actions in Ukraine have been largely silent on Gaza, allowing “egregious violations” to unfold.
Ollongren responded to the criticism. “We should, and we must, apply international law consistently in all cases,” she said.
“We feel the accusation of double standards. After the Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas, Europe was very supportive of Israel, recognizing its right to defend itself. But as the war in Gaza unfolded and civilian casualties mounted, we became more critical.
“The EU has increasingly called on Israel to abide by international humanitarian law and has worked to ensure humanitarian aid reaches those in need.
“At the same time, we support the Palestinian Authority in taking a governance role. I think we have now become a much more critical and fair partner for both sides.”
Asked whether the international system is failing, she said the problem lies not with institutions but with governments.
“The architecture we have needs to be protected,” she said. “We don’t need a new system. The problem is that it is not being respected. That is why it’s important for the EU to engage with countries that uphold the multilateral system, the rule of law, and international humanitarian law.
“These frameworks were designed to protect the most vulnerable in conflicts, not prevent wars.”
She concluded with a message to civilians in Gaza and Sudan.
“I understand that you have lost faith in the international system because it was not there to protect you when you were attacked and lost loved ones,” she said.
“It’s still the best system we have. From my side, I will focus on accountability and justice, because from a human rights perspective, that is what I must do for you.”
