While UN Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk accused both sides of the conflict in Sudan of violating international humanitarian law in the clashes, informed diplomatic sources revealed an initial agreement (principles) to accept the armistice, with the discussion continuing through Saudi-American mediation in a second phase on some points.
Al-Arabiya / Al-Hadath TV channel quoted those sources today (Thursday) as saying: “Determining the date for signing is linked to the agreement on some controversial items that are currently being discussed, indicating that some of the army’s demands and rapid support were postponed to the second stage of the negotiation.”
Both the army and the Rapid Support Forces had put forward some demands and conditions, but the mediation postponed them to limiting the agreement to a cease-fire and the opening of safe passages for the delivery of humanitarian aid.
An informed source confirmed earlier that the negotiations had made progress, and that an agreement on a cease-fire was expected to be reached soon.
In turn, US Undersecretary of State Victoria Nuland announced that US negotiators are cautiously optimistic about obtaining a commitment to humanitarian principles and a cease-fire, but they are also studying who could be targeted for sanctions unless the two warring factions agree to that.