South Sudan commends diversity of Sudan ceasefire talks
October 30, 2023 (JUBA) – South Sudan has commended the diversity and inclusiveness of the ongoing ceasefire talk on Sudan, describing its as a unified approach to end to conflict in the country.
South Sudan’s minister of foreign affairs minister, James Pitia Morgan said talks which have resumed in Saudi Arabia will culminate into a ceasefire because of the nature in which talks have been structured.
“I am optimistic this round of the talks will culminate into something positive because of the way the talks have been structured. It is diverse and inclusive”, Morgan told Sudan Tribune on Monday.
“All the important actors are now involved. you can see in the lead the important role of Saudi Arabia and the US in the facilitation. Then there is the African Union (AU), represented by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and countries with direct borders with Sudan as well as the Arab leagues and support of the gulf countries in the background. Every important actor is now participating in the talk and this is an important indicator of a united approach and when mediation is not united, it becomes a challenge for negotiations and such a process can not succeed”, he added.
The official said a unified approach was reached after intense engagement by the international actors to forge a common understanding to mediate the cessation of the hostilities and delivery of humanitarian assistance and essential supplies.
“The formation of a unified mediation was a culmination of several efforts. There have been intense negotiations and never-ending diplomacy persuading the parties to the conflict to accept ceasefire talks and allow access to humanitarian aid. So far it has only resulted in this unified effort and the mediation has started on the right footing. What is needed is now meaningful and uninterrupted delivery of humanitarian aid and this needs a humanitarian ceasefire to ensure this reaches those in need”, he stressed.
The Saudi foreign ministry officially announced that talks aimed at ending the ongoing war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have begun.
The statement said that the Sudanese parties have agreed that the facilitators will be the sole joint spokespersons for the talks and will also enforce a code of conduct agreed upon by the parties with the aim of guiding the talks. The conflict between the two former allies began in April 2023 after a dispute over when the RSF should be integrated into the army and what the future army would look like
While the army wanted the process to be completed within two years, the RSF wanted a longer timeframe of ten years. the conflict resulted in the killing of thousands of innocent civilians and displaced millions both to neighboring countries and to internal areas. The conflict has also caused a severe humanitarian crisis, with millions of people in need of food, water, and shelter.
The talks in Jeddah are the first direct talks between the SAF and RSF since the conflict began. the foreign ministry statement said that the talks are expected to focus on two main areas; facilitating the delivery of humanitarian assistance to those affected by the conflict and achieving a ceasefire.
(ST)