The United Nations Special Representative in Sudan, Volker Peretz, confirmed that the Jeddah agreement between the Sudanese army forces and the Rapid Support Forces, in order to protect civilians and secure the passage of aid, represents a very important first step. He revealed in his statements, today (to Friday), that one of the Sudanese parties informed him that the representatives of the army and the Rapid Support Forces intend to stay and continue the ceasefire talks, for a period of 10 days. He said, “We expect that talks on the ceasefire will resume today or tomorrow,” according to what was reported by “Agence France Presse.”
He added: The non-compliance with the cease-fire operations in the country so far is due to the belief of each party that it can win, but that the two sides of the conflict now realize that victory will not come quickly.
With regard to the possibility of leaving Sudan, as many diplomatic missions did, amid protests against his presence, Peretz confirmed that he was staying and would not leave the country.
The delegates of the army and rapid support, early this morning in Jeddah, signed an agreement of initial principles that included 7 items, most of which stipulated the protection of civilians, securing the passage of humanitarian and medical aid, arranging the withdrawal of military forces from hospitals and clinics, and burying the dead in a proper manner.
The two sides pledged to pursue talks with a view to reaching a short ceasefire for a period of 10 days, in order to secure these requirements.
And Saudi Arabia and America announced that other rounds would be held later, in order to establish a long truce, followed by subsequent negotiations that might bring together the civil forces alongside the military forces, in order to reach a solution that would return the country to the democratic path.
The fighting that broke out on April 15 between the two largest military forces in Sudan resulted in more than 600 deaths and more than 5,000 injuries.
For its part, the Sudanese Ministry of Health reported that at least 450 have died in the western region of Darfur, alone. The fighting caused the displacement of 700,000 people inside the country, and 150,000 sought refuge in neighboring countries, according to United Nations statistics.
