Clashes renewed in Khartoum between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces today, Saturday, despite the two sides signing a declaration of principles in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, yesterday, Thursday, while diplomatic sources confirmed the resumption of talks tomorrow.
The Anadolu Agency quoted eyewitnesses as saying that violent clashes continued in the cities of Bahri (north) and Omdurman (west), with military aircraft overflights, which complicated the humanitarian situation.
According to the testimony of the witnesses, the warplanes flew in Bahri and Omdurman, and fired shells in the face of the Rapid Support Forces gatherings, they said. He also heard the sound of cannons and clashes with heavy and light weapons in the eastern neighborhoods of the Nile.
Yesterday, Friday, the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces signed the “Jeddah Declaration” with US-Saudi mediation. The agreement stipulates the provision of “safe corridors” that allow civilians to leave the areas of clashes, as well as facilitating the delivery of humanitarian aid.
Saudi Arabia also announced the continuation of the Jeddah talks between the two parties to the conflict in Sudan, with the aim of reaching a ceasefire agreement between them for about 10 days, under US-Saudi international monitoring, and then other consultations for a permanent settlement.
Negotiations on the implementation of this agreement are scheduled to continue during the weekend in Jeddah, according to what was confirmed to the French Press Agency by a senior Saudi official who requested anonymity.
The official described this announcement as an “important step,” noting at the same time that the negotiations are still in a preliminary stage.
Invite Al-Burhan to the summit
For its part, Reuters quoted a senior Saudi diplomat as saying that the two sides of the conflict in Sudan will resume talks on Sunday.
The diplomat said that Saudi Arabia also invited the head of the Sudanese Sovereignty Council, Lieutenant General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, to the Arab League summit, to be held in Jeddah on May 19.
On the other hand, US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Molly started her visit to Addis Ababa to hold talks with the African Union, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and international partners, to end the conflict in Sudan.
According to African diplomatic sources for Al-Jazeera, Molly is seeking to unify the position of international partners on the Sudanese crisis, and will brief the African Union and IGAD on the US-Saudi efforts that have succeeded in bringing together the parties to the conflict in Sudan in Jeddah.
The US official also seeks to coordinate work with African partners to provide a roadmap for the upcoming negotiations between the two parties.
Molly headed the US delegation to the Jeddah negotiations in partnership with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which facilitated talks between representatives of the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces on May 11.
Since last April 15, large-scale clashes have erupted in a number of cities in Sudan between the army led by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the Rapid Support Forces led by Muhammad Hamdan Dagalo (Hamidti), killing about 750 people dead and 5 thousand wounded, and also led to the displacement of 900 thousand Sudanese from their homes. to other regions within the country or to neighboring countries.
Since the outbreak of the clashes, millions of Sudanese have been living in Khartoum, confined to their homes in stifling heat and in light of the near-permanent cuts of water and electricity, with suffering from a shortage of food, liquid cash and fuel.
Today, Saturday, the Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on the international community, especially the United Nations, the African Union, the Arab League and IGAD, to provide humanitarian aid to face the dire humanitarian situation.
Yesterday evening, Friday, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed his hope that this agreement would lead to the rapid and safe start of relief in order to meet the needs of millions of Sudanese, and called again for an immediate ceasefire and talks for a permanent end to the fighting.
