Sudanese army’s return to negotiations hinges on RSF withdrawal from Khartoum: statement
July 29, 2023 (KHARTOUM) – The return of the Sudanese army delegation to the negotiating table depends on the mediators’ ability to persuade the RSF to implement commitments previously agreed between the two sides, said a statement released on Saturday.
On July 27, the Sudanese army announced the return of its negotiating delegation from Jeddah for further consultations, pointing out that the Rapid Support Forces refuse to evacuate civilian homes, public facilities, and roads as agreed in the Jeddah Declaration for the Protection of Civilians in Sudan of May 11, 2023.
In a statement on July 29, the Sudanese Foreign Ministry confirmed that the refusal of the “rebel forces” to implement their signed commitments is the reason behind the stalemate of Jeddah talks, prompting the delegation of the Sudanese Armed Forces to return to the homeland.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirms the delegation’s readiness to return to the Jeddah platform as soon as the Saudi and American mediators are able to overcome the obstacles and hindrances that prevented the continuation of the talks,” stressed the statement.
The foreign ministry further emphasized the army’s willingness to reach a fair agreement that would stop hostilities and pave the way for discussing post-war issues.
The RSF refuses to withdraw their fighters from Khartoum, considering that this makes them vulnerable to attacks by the Sudanese army. The leadership of the paramilitary forces considers that with their withdrawal out of the capital, they will lose control of strategic sites that they were charged with guarding before the war, such as the oil refinery, radio and television, and the presidential palace building.
The negotiation process has seen interruptions before, with the Sudanese army withdrawing from talks on May 31, leading to mediation suspending negotiations on June 1. However, talks resumed on July 15, focusing on a draft agreement regarding the Declaration of General Principles for Negotiation and the Ceasefire Monitoring and Verification Mechanism, led by Saudi Arabia.
Late on Saturday, the Saudi foreign ministry announced that the Chairman of the Sovereign Council, Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, spoke with the Saudi Foreign Minister, Faisal bin Farhan. Nevertheless, the specific details of the discussion between the Sudanese military leader and the Saudi Foreign Minister were not disclosed.
During the phone conversation, Farhan emphasized the importance of Sudanese parties committing to restoring the flow of humanitarian assistance, protecting civilians, and ensuring the safety of relief workers.
He further called for calm and prioritizing the national interest, urging an end to all forms of military escalation and advocating for a political solution that would bring security and stability back to Sudan and its people.
Recently, the Sudanese army has escalated military operations in Khartoum and established training camps for volunteers in the eastern and northern states of Sudan.
The attacks on civilians’ residences and property have led civilians in Khartoum state to rally behind the national army in its conflict against RSF combatants from the Darfur region.
(ST)