Sudanese Warring Sides Sign Preliminary Agreement in Saudi Arabia

In a significant progress in efforts aimed at ending the ongoing conflict in Sudan, the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have come to a preliminary agreement protecting civilians during ongoing talks for a ceasefire.
The Friday’s accord was signed in the Saudi port city of Jeddah and has been confirmed by the Saudi Foreign Ministry.
Following a week of discussions in Jeddah, the rival parties also signed a declaration, expressing their commitment to working towards a short-term ceasefire during further negotiations.
An unnamed senior U.S. State Department official, cited by Reuters, stated that “the two sides are quite far apart,” indicating the challenges that lie ahead.
The text of the declaration, released after the talks, emphasized the factions’ dedication to prioritizing discussions that would lead to a short-term ceasefire, with the goal of facilitating the delivery of emergency humanitarian aid and the restoration of essential services.
According to a statement from the Saudi Foreign Ministry, the parties involved will focus on reaching an agreement for an effective ceasefire lasting approximately 10 days.
In their agreement, the Sudanese Army and RSF expressed their intention to plan “subsequent expanded discussions to achieve a permanent cessation of hostilities.”
Negotiators, working alongside Saudi and U.S. mediators, will now address specific security measures to safeguard the delivery of relief supplies, as reported by the U.S. official speaking to Reuters.
The U.S. official who spoke to Reuters said that transitioning from a temporary ceasefire, once agreed upon, to a permanent cessation of hostilities would be a lengthy process.
Later in the talks, civilian groups are expected to participate, according to the U.S. official. The Forces for Freedom and Change, a coalition of political parties advocating for democratic rule, hailed the declaration as “an important first step towards ending the war” and called on the forces to honour it.
Since April 15, Sudan has been grappling with deadly armed clashes between the Sudanese Army and the RSF, primarily in the capital city of Khartoum and other areas. The two sides have accused each other of instigating the conflict.
According to the World Health Organization, the ongoing clashes have resulted in a death toll of at least 604 people, with 5,127 individuals injured as of Tuesday.