Sudanese warring parties to resume talks on cessation of hostilities next week

October 21, 2023 (KHARTOUM) – Sudanese warring parties will resume talks on a cessation of hostilities next week, announced the deputy commander-in-chief of the Sudanese army on Saturday.

Lt Gen Shams al-Din al-Kabashi told military officers that the army delegation would travel to Jeddah next Thursday, October 26, a according to a short video from his speech before the army officers at the Wadi Saydna military base.

Kabashi did not explain if the mediators have succeeded to bring the two sides to resume talks on new bases, or to make mutual concessions.

The army suspended its participation in the Saudi-U.S. led mediation on May 31 to protest against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF)’s failure to withdraw from essential service facilities and residential areas in the conflict-affected areas.

On May 11, 2023, the Sudanese army and the RSF signed a Declaration of Commitment to Protect the Civilians of Sudan. Following the signing of this declaration of principles, the parties have to reach an agreement on an effective ceasefire to facilitate humanitarian access to the conflict areas. After that, the belligerents have to agree on arrangements for subsequent talks on a permanent cessation of hostilities, with the participation of Sudanese civilians and regional and international partners.

However, the army demands the withdrawal of the RSF forces to cantonment sites outside the Khartoum state before to endorse an agreement to stop the war. But the RSF says the capital and other conflict-affected states should be fully demilitarized and requests the withdrawal of the army on equal bases.

The Sudanese generals retort that their mission is to protect the civilians and the country and reject any similarity between them and the paramilitary forces. They further point to the war crimes and grave human rights violations in urban areas, the paramilitary forces are accused of committing.

(ST)