Early Friday, Sudan’s warring factions vowed to protect civilians and humanitarian aid, but no ceasefire was reached.
Sudan’s army and opposition paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) issued a declaration pledging a short-term ceasefire after a week of discussions in Jeddah. “The two sides are quite far apart,” a senior US State Department official said on condition of anonymity.
Following the talks, all parties “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 the US State Department, the parties will cooperate on a 10-day ceasefire.
According to the US source, Saudi-US negotiations will discuss relief supply security next. The State Department’s actions “will include a U.S.-Saudi and international-supported ceasefire monitoring mechanism.”
Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan said on Twitter that “other steps will follow” after the discussions and commitment to civilian safety.
“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.
The army and the RSF agreed to “further expanded talks to achieve a permanent cessation of hostilities.”
A temporary ceasefire would take time to become permanent, according to a US official. Washington believes Friday’s declaration will spark action.
The envoy from the United States stated that civilian groups will join the discussions later. soldiers for Freedom and Change, a coalition of democratic parties, called the declaration “an important first step towards ending the war” and urged soldiers to obey.
Residents of Halfaya, a gateway to Khartoum, heard jets circling over Khartoum, Bahri, and Omdurman on Thursday, but the fighting was calmer than on Wednesday.
Neither side has openly proposed concessions to end the violence that erupted suddenly last month, threatening to plunge Sudan into civil war, murder hundreds, and produce a humanitarian crisis.
Due to persistent ceasefire breaches, civilians confront a dreadful picture of chaos and shelling, with failing power, water, food, and a deteriorating health system.
Allow time to bury the dead
According to a senior State Department official, the proclamation announced early Friday intends to enhance humanitarian assistance while also restoring water and electricity.
“To arrange for the withdrawal of security forces from hospitals and clinics, as well as to perform the respectful burial of the dead,” the source continued.
According to the World Health Organization, 600 people died and 5,000 were injured. The Health Ministry claimed 450 fatalities in western Darfur.
According to the United Nations, 700,000 Sudanese have left Khartoum and Darfur, with 150,000 fleeing to neighboring countries.
Western governments condemned both sides’ transgressions during a human rights forum in Geneva, while Sudan’s delegate dismissed the issue as an “internal matter.”
