France's foreign minister on Thursday called on foreign nations to stop helping the warring sides in famine-stricken Sudan's civil war as he visited refugee camps in neighbouring Chad.
Sudan has been mired since April 2023 in conflict between the army, led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), led by his former deputy, General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo.
Both sides face accusations of war crimes, including targeting civilians, shelling residential areas, and blocking or looting aid.
The conflict has killed tens of thousands and forced over 11 million people out of their homes, with 2.1 million fleeing the country. The United Nations estimates that more than 25 million people -- over half the population -- facing acute hunger.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot called on "the foreign powers that are allied with the belligerents to stop adding fuel to the fire", without naming specific countries.
Al Burhan's government has accused Chad of meddling in the war by helping to deliver weapons from the United Arab Emirates to the RSF paramilitary forces, which Chad and the UAE have denied.
Mutual finger-pointing has also seen Chad blaming Sudan for allegedly arming and financing rebel groups on its territory.
Barrot also denounced the attitude of Russia, which vetoed a UN resolution last week that urged a ceasefire and the protection of civilians in Sudan.
Russia has "abandonned the Sudanese" and "unveiled its relationship with Africa, a relationship based on greed, cynicism and hyprocrisy", the minister said.
Around 1.5 million Sudanese refugees have fled to Chad, a country of 20 million people.
- 'Strictly neutral' -
Barrot urged the Sudanese armed forces to "keep the Adre crossing open and lift all bureaucratic impediments to the delivery of humanitarian aid".
Adre, leading into Chad, is the only access point to famine-stricken Darfur in western Sudan.
He urged the RSF to "cease looting, racketeering and the diversion of humanitarian convoys to allow them to arrive at their destination".
Chad's Foreign Minister Abderaman Koulamallah, who was with Barrot said that Chad "remains strictly neutral in the conflict".
"We have an interest in bringing peace back to Sudan and remaining as neutral as possible in this war," he added.
Barrot pledged an additional seven million euros ($7.4 million) in aid to support efforts to fight cholera and help women and children in Chad.
Paris had already vowed to donate $110 million in April.
Several nations have promised more than $2 billion for Sudan, but voiced concern about getting the aid to the population.