Troika countries voice concern about escalating war in Sudan’s peripheral regions
June 28, 2023 (KHARTOUM) – Troika countries express deep concern over escalating hostilities in Sudan’s peripheral regions, warning of the potential for further conflict.
Special envoys from Norway, the United Kingdom, and the United States convened for a two-day meeting on June 21-22 to address the ongoing conflict in Sudan and the need for coordinated international pressure to halt the fighting.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, June 27, the envoys emphasized the expanding violence in South Kordofan, Blue Nile, and Darfur, which poses a risk of exacerbating the armed conflict in the troubled nation.
The statement stressed their appeal to “leaders of armed movements inside Sudan to stay out of the fight and support peace and a negotiated end to the conflict.”
Recent attacks by the SPLM-N, led by Abdel Aziz al-Hilu, targeted Sudanese army positions in South Kordofan and Blue Nile as
the Sudanese army battles the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Khartoum and Darfur states.
On June 21, the United States and Saudi Arabia suspended the Jeddah process to resolve the conflict, citing its ineffectiveness in achieving desired outcomes.
U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Molly Phee stated during a US House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee hearing on Thursday, June 22, that the talks were adjourned because “the format is not succeeding in the way that we want.”
Matthew Miller, State Department Spokesperson, confirmed on Tuesday that facilitators, including the United States, are prepared to resume formal talks in Jeddah once the parties demonstrate a commitment to upholding the terms of the Jeddah Declaration.
Miller further noted ongoing monitoring of the situation and consideration of additional measures to hold the parties accountable.
Initially, the United States aimed to halt the fighting and facilitate an agreement on disputed military arrangements before initiating an inclusive political process to establish a transitional civilian government following the conflict outbreak on April 15.
After ten weeks of fighting, positions have evolved, with army generals showing less inclination toward involving revolutionary forces in the political process and accusing the Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC) of supporting paramilitary forces.
The FFC leaders called for an end to armed confrontation, declaring neutrality and emphasizing that a military solution cannot bring stability.
Political forces emphasized that the political framework agreement established the necessary mechanism for integrating paramilitary forces into the army, a key objective in their plans to restore democracy in Sudan.
Meanwhile, the military is accused of enlisting supporters of the former Islamist regime to fight against the RSF forces.
(ST)