Jeddah May 08 2023: Sudan’s warring military factions – the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces agreed to facilitate humanitarian assistance, Saudi Arabia’s officials said, as international mediators pressed for an end to the three-week old conflict.
Under the facilitation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, representatives of the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces have commenced pre-negotiation talks in Jeddah on May 6. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States urged both parties to engage in the talks seriously to advance the following objectives: achieving an effective short-term ceasefire, facilitating the delivery of emergency humanitarian assistance and restoration of essential services, and scheduling subsequent expanded negotiations to achieve a permanent cessation of hostilities.
The parties agreed that they bear a heavy responsibility to help alleviate the suffering of the Sudanese people, including the responsibility to reach near-term agreement on security measures to facilitate the delivery of emergency humanitarian assistance and restoration of essential services to those in need.
The parties began reviewing the proposed Declaration of Commitment to protect civilians and facilitate and respect humanitarian action in Sudan. They also began discussions on security measures the two sides would need to quickly take to facilitate the delivery of emergency humanitarian assistance and restoration of essential services, in accordance with the Declaration’s principles.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States welcomed the commitment of the two sides to a constructive and mutually respectful approach and urged them to observe the current ceasefire and refrain from provocative actions on the ground to sustain a positive atmosphere for the pre-negotiation talks.
The talks continued on May 7 and will continue in the coming days in the expectation of reaching an effective short-term ceasefire to facilitate humanitarian assistance.
