Sudanese army and RSF resume ceasefire talks in Jeddah

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia

The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have officially recommenced negotiations for a ceasefire in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Saturday, as confirmed in a statement released by the mediators.

The ceasefire discussions are being facilitated by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United States of America, IGAD, and the African Union. The two regional organizations are participating for the first time in the talks.

Aligned with the objectives of the May 11 Jeddah Declaration of Commitment to Protect the Civilians of Sudan, the negotiations have set the following goals: facilitating the delivery of humanitarian aid, achieving a ceasefire, implementing confidence-building measures, and exploring the potential for a comprehensive agreement to terminate hostilities.

The facilitators have made it clear that the talks will not address political matters.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the State Department emphasized the importance of Sudan’s civilians taking the lead in shaping the country’s future and determining the process for addressing political issues, ultimately restoring Sudan’s democratic transition.

The quartet of mediators has affirmed their role as the exclusive joint spokesperson for the negotiations and has established agreed-upon rules of conduct to guide the proceedings.

While the delegations arrived on Thursday, October 26, disagreements surfaced regarding the composition of the delegations, particularly concerning Omer Siddiq, an individual previously dismissed by the empowerment removal committee and subsequently reinstated by al-Burhan after the coup on October 25, 2021.

In their statement, the facilitators clarified that Siddiq is no longer a member of the negotiating team but rather serves as an expert on the Sudanese army delegation.

Each delegation comprises six members, comprising a four-member negotiation team and two experts.

The ceasefire had been halted in May, with the Sudanese army asserting that a ceasefire could only be reached once the RSF withdrew from urban areas.

In a separate statement, Martin Griffiths, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, announced that the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs would oversee the humanitarian aspect of these negotiations.

Since the outbreak of the conflict in mid-April of this year, more than a thousand lives have been lost, and over five million people have been displaced. However, only 3.6 million individuals have received humanitarian assistance, leaving 80 per cent of those in need without aid.

“These talks present a crucial opportunity to reassure the people of Sudan that they are not forgotten, that we take our international responsibilities seriously, and that we are committed to ensuring they receive the care, protection, and life-saving assistance they require,” emphasized Griffiths.