Al-Burhan and Hemeti representatives in Jeddah discuss humanitarian issues
Attention focused Saturday on the Saudi Red Sea city of Jeddah, which is expected to host talks between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces at the Saudi-US initiative, as international mediators are pressing for an end to the conflict that has killed hundreds and driven tens of thousands of refugees to flee abroad.
The army and the Rapid Support Forces, two separate delegations, were sent to Saudi Arabia to negotiate a truce.
The two sides are negotiating indirectly with U.S.-Saudi mediation to discuss a ceasefire, ending the military presence in residential neighborhoods and opening humanitarian corridors for access to health care and relief distribution.
In the statement, the United States and Saudi Arabia welcomed the “initiation of preliminary talks” in Jeddah between representatives of the Sudanese armed forces and the Rapid Support Forces. He urged both sides in the Sudanese conflict to “engage seriously” in these talks to reach a “ceasefire and end the conflict.”
The Coalition of Sudanese Freedom and Change Forces, a political grouping spearheading an internationally backed plan for a transition to civilian rule, also welcomed the Jeddah talks on Saturday and expressed hope that they would lead to a cessation of hostilities and a handling of the humanitarian situation, paving the way for a peaceful, sustainable political solution.
In a statement, it said that these talks are a first step to stop the accelerating collapse that Sudan has witnessed since the outbreak of the war in mid-April, adding that she hopes that the leadership of the armed forces and quick support for courageous decisions will win the voice of wisdom, stop the fighting and end the suffering of the people as a result of the war.
The civil powers also thanked the governments of Saudi Arabia and the United States for their efforts in arranging these talks and reaching a formula that ends the war and resolves the peace.
The Sudanese Army delegation includes General Abubakar Faqiri and Ambassador Omar Siddiq, while the Rapid Support delegation includes Brigadier General Omar Hamdan, the brother of the Rapid Support Forces Commander Major Quni Hamdan Daglo, and Faris Al-Nur, an advisor to the Rapid Support Commander with expertise in humanitarian issues.
The Jeddah initiative is the first serious attempt to end fighting that has paralyzed Sudan’s government and jeopardized the country’s political transition after years of turmoil and uprisings.
“Despite more than one ceasefire declaration, no signs of an end to the fighting appeared on the horizon.”
But Sudanese broadcasters said there was no exchange of fire in and around Khartoum in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Saudi Arabia has close ties to army chief General Abdul Fattah al-Burhan and Rapid Support Forces commander Mohammed Hamdan Daqlo, known as “Hemeti,” both of whom have sent troops to help the Kingdom-led coalition in its fight against the Houthi group in Yemen.
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and his US counterpart, Antony Blinken, discussed the latest joint initiative to host parties to the Sudanese conflict in Jeddah in a phone call on Friday evening in an attempt to reduce tensions, the kingdom said.
The two ministers reviewed the latest developments of the Saudi-US initiative to host representatives of the two sides in Jeddah, which aims to prepare the ground for dialog to reduce tensions there, ensuring the security and stability of Sudan and its brotherly people.
“A group of countries led by Britain, the United States, Germany and Norway is due to request an urgent meeting of the UN Human Rights Council on the Sudan crisis next week, Friday’s document showed.”
“The World Food Program (WFP) fears that 19 million people will suffer from hunger and malnutrition over the coming months in Sudan due to the ongoing military conflict.”
“For its part, the UN has sounded an alarm about the humanitarian situation.” WFP “expects the number of people experiencing acute food insecurity in Sudan to increase between 2 million and 2.5 million,” said UN Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq. This will bring the total number (of these people) to 19 million between the next three and six months if the current conflict continues.”
The UN Human Rights Council announced an emergency meeting on the situation in Sudan on 11 May. The meeting is being held at the request of the United Kingdom, Norway, the United States and Germany on Friday evening, which has so far won the support of 52 countries, the council said in a statement.
“Since 15 April, fighting between the army and the RSF has resulted in around 700 deaths and thousands of injuries, according to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Group (ACLED).”
The UN says children are among those killed “in large numbers” in a country where 49 percent of the population is under 18.
The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said on Friday that seven children were reported killed and wounded every hour.
“The UN agency said it had received reports from a reliable partner – which the UN has yet to independently verify – that 190 children were killed and 1,700 injured during the first 11 days of fighting alone.”
On Thursday, US President Joe Biden stressed that “the tragedy… must end,” while waving sanctions against “individuals who threaten peace,” but without naming anyone.
“Sudan, a country of 45 million, emerged in 2020 from two decades of U.S. sanctions imposed on the Islamic military dictatorship of General Omar al-Bashir, who was deposed by the military under street pressure in 2019 after 30 years in power.”
CIA chief Avril Haines predicted “long-term” battles because “both sides believe that they can win militarily and have little incentive to sit down at the negotiating table.”
“More than 5,000 people have been wounded, at least 335,000 displaced and another 115,000 displaced, according to the UN, which is requesting 402 million euros to help Sudan, one of the world’s poorest countries.”
“More than 56,000 people crossed on 3 May” into Egypt, the UN said, adding that “more than 12,000” crossed into Ethiopia and “30,000 into Chad.”
In the Darfur region, west of the border with Chad, which witnessed a bloody war that began in 2003 between the Bashir regime and ethnic minority rebels, the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) reported “at least 191 dead, dozens of houses burnt down, thousands displaced,” and its offices looted.
“An additional 30 tons of aid arrived Friday in the port city of Port Sudan, which has remained relatively spared the violence.”
“The UN and other NGOs are seeking to negotiate deliveries to Khartoum and Darfur, where hospitals and humanitarian stocks have been looted and shelled.”
“The Arab League will hold two extraordinary meetings in Cairo on Sunday, one of which will focus on the war in Sudan, a senior diplomat said.”
