Sudan’s Rival Forces Agree to Protect Civilians, No Ceasefire Yet
U.S. officials reported that on Friday morning, the warring factions of Sudan agreed to protect civilians and humanitarian aid, but did not agree to a ceasefire and remained far apart.
After a week of discussions in the Saudi port of Jeddah, the Sudanese army and rival paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) signed a declaration stating that they would work towards a short-term ceasefire in future talks.
Under the condition of anonymity, a senior U.S. State Department official stated, “The two sides are quite far apart.”
A text of the declaration released following the talks stated that the two factions “commit to prioritizing discussions to achieve a short-term ceasefire to facilitate the delivery of emergency humanitarian assistance and the restoration of essential services.”
According to a statement from the U.S. State Department, the parties would focus on reaching an agreement for a 10-day ceasefire.
U.S. official: Next, negotiators working with Saudi and American mediators will discuss specific security measures for protecting relief supplies. The State Department stated in a statement that the measures “will include a U.S.-Saudi and international-supported ceasefire monitoring mechanism.”
Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan stated on Twitter that the talks and the commitment to protect civilians were a first step, and that “other steps will follow.”
“The most important thing is to adhere to what was agreed upon, and the Kingdom will work until security and stability return to Sudan and its brotherly people,” the Saudi minister said.
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In their agreement, the army and RSF agreed to schedule “subsequently expanded discussions to achieve a permanent cessation of hostilities.”
Once a temporary ceasefire is agreed upon, the U.S. official said it would be a lengthy process to reach a permanent cessation of hostilities. Washington hopes that the two sides’ willingness to sign the declaration on Friday will generate momentum.
The U.S. official stated that civilian groups are expected to participate later in the negotiations. The Forces for Freedom and Change, a coalition of political parties that support democratic rule, referred to the declaration as “an important first step towards ending the war” and urged the forces to adhere to it.
On Thursday, residents of Halfaya, an entry point to the capital Khartoum, heard warplanes circling over Khartoum and its neighboring cities Bahri and Omdurman, but the fighting appeared to be less intense than on Wednesday.
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Publicly, neither side has demonstrated a willingness to make concessions. To end the conflict that suddenly erupted last month. Threatening to plunge Sudan into civil war, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of people and a humanitarian crisis.
Previous ceasefire agreements have been repeatedly violated. Leaving civilians to navigate a terrifying landscape of chaos and bombardment. With failing electricity and water, scant food, and a collapsing health care system.
ALLOW BURIAL OF THE DEAD
The senior State Department official stated that the declaration signed early on Friday morning. Aims to increase the flow of humanitarian aid and initiate the restoration of water and power services.
The official stated that mediators hope it will be possible to “arrange for the withdrawal of security forces from hospitals and clinics and the respectful burial of the deceased.”
According to the World Health Organization, over 600 people have been killed and over 5,000 injured in the conflict. The Health Ministry reported that at least 450 people perished in the western Darfur region.
U.N. statistics indicate that many have fled Khartoum and Darfur. Uprooting 700,000 people within the country and sending 150,000 as refugees to neighboring states.
At a Geneva human rights meeting, Western nations condemned violations by both sides. But Sudan’s envoy stated that the conflict was an “internal affair.”
Sudan’s Rival Forces Agree to Protect Civilians, No Ceasefire Yet
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