5/26/2023–|Last updated: 5/26/202311:07 AM (Mecca time)
The US embassy in Khartoum said in a joint statement today, Friday, that Saudi Arabia and the United States note an improvement in respecting the short-term ceasefire agreement and humanitarian arrangements in Sudan.
Sporadic clashes broke out between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces during the past hours, which shattered the relative calm in the capital, Khartoum.
A cease-fire agreement was reached last Saturday, with Saudi-American mediation, during the talks in the city of Jeddah, after fierce battles 5 weeks ago between the army and the Rapid Support Forces.
The United Nations Special Envoy to the Horn of Africa, Hanna Tetteh, expressed her concern about the developments in Sudan, and wrote on her Twitter account, Thursday, “The developments in Sudan are worrying. A ceasefire agreement has been signed … and yet the fighting continues.”
Developments in Sudan are worrying. A cease-fire agreement was signed, the parties agreed to its terms and to respect international humanitarian law. Yet still the fighting continues! This is not acceptable, it has to stop. People should be able to live their lives in peace.
– Hanna Tetteh (@HannaTetteh) May 24, 2023
“This is unacceptable and it must stop,” she added. “People must be able to live their lives in peace.”
Threat of penalties
In the same context, US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said yesterday, Thursday, “We are still witnessing violations of the ceasefire,” especially in Khartoum and Darfur.
He added, “We are putting pressure on both sides regarding these violations,” stressing that the United States reserves the right to impose sanctions “when necessary,” but he did not talk about a timetable or about the individuals who might be targeted by these sanctions.
Malik Agar, Vice President of the Sudanese Sovereignty Council, called for an end to the conflict in the country, and for reaching logical solutions through dialogue.
The Sudanese army also said that the Sudanese armed forces are committed to the text of the Jeddah ceasefire agreement.
The army stressed in a statement that the agreement is limited to the military and technical aspects of the temporary ceasefire arrangements, in addition to arrangements for the protection of civilians and hospitals, and does not address political issues.
For his part, Youssef Ezzat, the political advisor to the commander of the Rapid Support Forces in Sudan, described the ceasefire agreement in Jeddah as a good and positive step, and said that the Rapid Support Forces are committed to the armistice and the ceasefire.
Since April 15, the conflict between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces has resulted in the deaths of hundreds, the displacement of more than a million people internally, and the flight of more than 300,000 people to neighboring countries.
According to ACLED data and facts, the death toll since the outbreak of the fighting has reached 1,800 people, most of whom fell in the capital and in the city of El Geneina, the capital of West Darfur.