AFRICA (Commonwealth Union) _ According to U.S. officials, Sudan’s warring factions have made a commitment to safeguard civilians and facilitate the movement of humanitarian aid.
However, they have not reached an agreement on a ceasefire and remain significantly divided. Following negotiations in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Sudan’s army and the rival paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) signed a declaration outlining their intention to work towards a short-term ceasefire in subsequent discussions. Nevertheless, a senior U.S. State Department official, speaking anonymously, acknowledged that the two sides have considerable differences.
The released text of the declaration states that the factions pledge to prioritize discussions aimed at achieving a temporary ceasefire to facilitate the delivery of emergency humanitarian assistance and the restoration of vital services. The U.S. State Department further stated that the parties will concentrate on reaching a deal for an effective ceasefire lasting approximately 10 days.
The next phase of negotiations, involving Saudi and U.S. mediators, will focus on establishing specific security measures to protect relief supplies, as mentioned by the U.S. official. The State Department statement also mentioned the inclusion of a ceasefire monitoring mechanism supported by the United States, Saudi Arabia, and the international community.
Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan referred to the talks and the commitment to protecting civilians as a first step, emphasizing that further actions would follow. He expressed the Kingdom’s dedication to working towards restoring security and stability in Sudan.
In their agreement, the army and RSF stated that they would schedule subsequent discussions with the aim of achieving a permanent cessation of hostilities. The U.S. official acknowledged that transitioning from a temporary ceasefire to a lasting end to hostilities would be a lengthy process but expressed hope that the signing of the declaration would generate momentum.
The participation of civilian groups is anticipated in the later stages of the talks, as mentioned by the U.S. official. The Forces for Freedom and Change, a coalition of political parties supporting democratic governance, welcomed the declaration as an important initial step towards ending the conflict and called on the factions to adhere to it.
Clashes occurred in Halfaya, an entry point to the capital Khartoum, on Thursday, with reports of warplanes circling over Khartoum and its adjoining cities. However, the fighting appeared less intense than the previous day.
Neither side has shown a willingness to make concessions publicly, which hampers efforts to resolve the conflict that erupted suddenly a month ago. The situation poses a threat of civil war, resulting in numerous casualties and a humanitarian crisis.
Previous ceasefire agreements have been repeatedly violated, leaving civilians in a harrowing situation with chaos, bombardment, power and water shortages, limited food, and a collapsing healthcare system.
The senior State Department official explained that the declaration signed on Friday aims to enhance the flow of humanitarian relief and initiate the restoration of water and electricity services. Mediators hope to coordinate the withdrawal of security forces from hospitals and clinics and facilitate the respectful burial of the deceased.
According to the World Health Organization, more than 600 people have been killed and over 5,000 injured in the fighting, with at least 450 deaths reported in the western Darfur region, according to the Health Ministry. The conflict has displaced around 700,000 people internally and forced 150,000 to seek refuge in neighbouring countries, according to United Nations data.
