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The Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Force (RSF) signed on May 11 a declaration of commitment to protect civilians in the country after a week of talks in the Saudi city of Jeddah, the United States announced.
In a statement, the Department of State said that the declaration will guide the conduct of the two warring factions to enable the safe delivery of humanitarian assistance, the restoration of essential services, the withdrawal of forces from hospitals and clinics, and the respectful burial of the dead.
The talks in Jeddah will now focus on reaching agreement on an effective ceasefire in Sudan of up to approximately ten days, the department revealed, adding a U.S.- Saudi and international-supported ceasefire monitoring mechanism could be agreed upon.
“In line with the step-by-step approach agreed by the parties, the Jeddah Talks will address proposed arrangements for subsequent talks – with Sudanese civilians and regional and international partners – on a permanent cessation of hostilities,” the department’s statement reads.
The army’s Commander-in-Chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the commander of the RSF General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo have been ruling Sudan as the president and vice-president of the so-called Sovereign Council since a coup in October 2021.
The conflict broke out in Sudan in mid-April as a result of a disagreement over how the RSF should be integrated into the army and what authority should oversee the process during transition to civilian-led rule in the country.
The World Health Organization said more than 600 people have been killed and more than 5,000 injured in the clashes between the two warring factions. Sudan’s Health Ministry said at least 450 people were killed in the western Darfur region, alone.
The fighting displaced 700,000 people internally and forced 150,000 to seek refuge in neighboring states, according to United Nations figures.
The Jeddah declaration is a positive development. However, previous agreements between the army and the RSF saw major violations and collapsed within a few hours. The failure of the U.S.-Saudi-sponsored talks could lead to a full-blown civil war in Sudan.
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Since there is a fight between SAF and RSF, then in Syria there may be clash between SAA and NDF after the HTS is gone. Unfortunately. Suheil may try a coup with the help of Wagner, just like Haftar and Hemeti are doing in their countries.