As part of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's intensive diplomatic efforts on the international stage, His Highness Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, Minister of Foreign Affairs, met today, Saturday, with the US Special Envoy for Combating Antisemitism, Yehuda Kaplan, on the sidelines of the 2026 Munich Security Conference. This meeting underscores the Kingdom's leading role in promoting international peace and security through constructive dialogue.

During the meeting, a comprehensive review was conducted of international efforts to promote the values ​​of dialogue and tolerance, as well as effective mechanisms to combat all forms of extremism and hatred. The two sides also discussed the importance of fostering understanding and coexistence among different peoples and cultures—principles that Saudi diplomacy has long championed as a cornerstone for achieving global stability. The Munich Security Conference, which hosted this meeting, is the world's leading platform for discussing international security policies, bringing together decision-makers and leaders to exchange views on current and future challenges.

In a related context concerning regional crises and peace efforts, the Foreign Minister held another meeting today with the High Representative of the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Mr. Nikolay Mladenov. The meeting included an in-depth discussion of the latest developments in the Gaza Strip and the international and regional efforts underway to address them. The two sides also discussed ways to support de-escalation efforts and humanitarian work, with the aim of protecting civilians and achieving lasting security in the region.

These successive meetings in Munich reflect the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's commitment to effective engagement with all influential international actors, whether in combating extremist ideology and promoting a culture of peace, or in addressing hotspots of tension and conflict in the Middle East. These initiatives underscore Riyadh's political weight and its ability to lead diplomatic efforts aimed at strengthening regional and international stability, particularly in light of the growing security challenges facing the world, which necessitate close cooperation and continuous coordination among states and international organizations.

In a dangerous development casting a dark shadow over the Sudanese landscape, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has directly and explicitly accused the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of committing war crimes and potential crimes against humanity in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur State. This UN report documents atrocities committed since the RSF seized control of the city, revealing a shocking toll of victims and violations.

Details of documented massacres and violations

According to a report released today (Friday), the UN Human Rights Office documented the deaths of at least 6,000 people in an initial toll that is likely to rise. The data indicates that 4,400 people were killed inside the city itself, while more than 1,600 died while trying to flee the fighting. The Office confirmed that the first three days of the offensive alone saw thousands of casualties, warning that the true number of dead and missing is far higher.

The violations were not limited to indiscriminate killings, but also included horrific reports of the use of starvation as a method of warfare, and deliberate attacks against civilians and civilian objects, including hospitals and medical and humanitarian personnel. The report also documented systematic sexual violence, including rape and torture, widespread looting, and the forced recruitment and use of children in hostilities.

Al-Fashir: Strategic Importance and Historical Context

To understand the scale of the disaster, one must consider the strategic importance of El Fasher. The city is the administrative and commercial center of North Darfur State and has long been the last stronghold of the Sudanese Armed Forces in the troubled Darfur region. Its fall or capture would represent a pivotal turning point in the conflict that has raged in Sudan since mid-April 2023, granting the controlling party significant influence over the entire western region.

This escalation brings to mind the bloody conflict in Darfur that began in 2003, raising international fears of a repeat of ethnic cleansing and genocide. El Fasher's strategic location makes it a vital transportation hub for the flow of humanitarian aid, and therefore military operations there are strangling a lifeline for millions of civilians trapped in the region.

International calls for criminal accountability

Commenting on these violations, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, called for immediate and impartial investigations to determine criminal responsibility, stressing that accountability must extend to leaders and those responsible for issuing orders, not just the perpetrators.

The High Commissioner's findings align with previous conclusions reached by the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, which affirmed the existence of reasonable grounds to believe that war crimes and crimes against humanity were committed during the takeover of El Fasher. This report places the international community before its responsibilities to take urgent action to halt the violations and ensure that perpetrators are not allowed to escape punishment, given the worsening humanitarian crisis, described as one of the worst displacement and hunger crises in the world today.