Sudan’s Warring Factions Achieve Rare Consensus: 24-Hour Ceasefire Accorded
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
The warring parties in Sudan have agreed to a 24-hour ceasefire beginning on Saturday, according to a joint statement by US and Saudi mediators who have mediated previous failed ceasefires.
“Representatives of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) agreed to a 24-hour countrywide ceasefire beginning on June 10 at 6:00 am (0400 GMT),” according to a statement issued by the Saudi foreign ministry on Friday.
“Sudan’s Rival Groups Reach a Rare Agreement: A 24-Hour Ceasefire”
Washington has imposed sanctions on the two warring generals, blaming both sides for the “appalling” amount of bloodshed.
“Should the parties fail to observe the 24-hour ceasefire, facilitators will be compelled to consider adjourning” talks in the Saudi city of Jeddah, which have been suspended since late last month, said the mediators.
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The US authorizes sanctions against Sudanese warlords and their backers. Despite several cease-fires, fighting between the regular army and the paramilitary RSF has gripped Khartoum and the volatile western region of Darfur since April.
According to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project, more than 1,800 people have been killed, and the United Nations reports that nearly two million people have been displaced, including 476,00 who have sought refuge in neighboring countries.
The Saudi and American mediators stated that they “share the frustration of the Sudanese people over the inconsistent application of previous ceasefires.”
“If observed, the 24-hour ceasefire will provide an important opportunity for the parties to undertake confidence-building measures that could allow the Jeddah talks to resume,” the statement said.
The announcement on Friday comes one day after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken concluded a three-day visit to Saudi Arabia, where he met with senior Saudi officials to discuss Sudan.
Sudan’s Warring Factions Achieve Rare Consensus: 24-Hour Ceasefire Accorded
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