Riyadh, Jun 4 (PTI) The United States and Saudi Arabia, which are mediating the conflict in Sudan, today asked the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (FAR) paramilitary group to resume talks in the Saudi city of Jeddah to reach a new peace. agree to a brief ceasefire. Last night ended without an extension.
“The United States and Saudi Arabia reaffirm their commitment to the people of Sudan (…) We call on both sides to agree to a new ceasefire and abide by it to permanently end military operations.” are” which started in the middle. -April, said a joint statement issued by the Saudi Foreign Ministry.
The appeal comes hours after the last five-day ceasefire ended without an extension due to the June 1 suspension of talks by mediators due to frequent violations of the ceasefire.
The note states that the mediators, the US and Saudi Arabia, “are prepared to resume official dialogue and remind both sides that they must respect their commitments under the Jeddah Declaration regarding the protection of civilians”. ”
He also stressed that “representatives from both sides, the military and the FAR, are still in Jeddah, despite the suspension of talks and the end of the ceasefire on June 3.”
In the so-called Declaration of Jeddah, on 11 May the army and the FAR, in confrontations since 15 April, agreed to a brief ceasefire to ensure the flow of aid to Sudan, and as a step before a permanent halt. Fire, as well as evacuate civilian facilities and services, especially hospitals, to protect civilians.
They also agree to avoid military operations in residential areas and not to use civilian homes and facilities for military purposes or to take civilians as human shields, among other things.
None of the nine ceasefires between the army and the FAR, including the last two – seven and five days – have been respected, despite pressure from Washington and Riyadh, which sponsored an indirect dialogue between the parties since May 6, which But he was suspended. Due to repeated violations of the ceasefire by the mediators on 1 June.
The suspension was accompanied by the US imposing economic and visa sanctions against the FAR and the military, as well as against affiliated companies they use to rearm, according to Washington.
According to the United Nations, the conflict in Sudan has killed at least 850 people and injured more than 5,500, and caused the internal and external displacement of more than 1.3 million people.
