US Thanks Saudi Arabia for Hosting Sudanese Military Discussions in Jeddah
The United States expressed appreciation to Saudi Arabia for hosting talks between Sudanese armed forces and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Jeddah.
Matthew Miller, the spokesperson for the US State Department, acknowledged Saudi Arabia’s efforts and welcomed the involvement of IGAD which was acting on behalf of the African Union as a facilitating party.
A joint meeting focusing on ceasefire discussions between the Sudanese armed forces and RSF was held, involving Saudi Arabia, the US, and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD).
The discussions aimed at facilitating humanitarian aid delivery, establishing a ceasefire, building trust measures, and working towards a permanent halt to hostilities, aligning with the Jeddah Declaration to protect Sudanese civilians issued on May 11.
Miller emphasized the importance of saving lives, reducing fighting, and creating a path out of conflict through negotiations. He continued urging all external parties to avoid fueling the conflict.
He stressed that it was time to halt unjustified violence, resume civil governance, and allow the Sudanese people to achieve their demands for freedom, peace, and justice.
Saudi Arabia, alongside the United States, has been actively involved in mediating talks between warring factions within Sudan. The primary factions include the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
These talks, held in Jeddah, aim at finding a resolution to the conflict that has been devastating Sudan for over six months.
Recent negotiations in Saudi Arabia sought to address humanitarian crises and ceasefire agreements.
In May 2023, representatives from the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF signed a short-term ceasefire and humanitarian arrangements agreement in Jeddah.
Sudanese Conflict Background:
The conflict erupted in mid-April over plans to integrate troops, following a coup led by these forces 18 months prior, which ousted civilian partners from power.
The violence has resulted in what has been described as one of the worst humanitarian crises in recent history, displacing almost six million people and causing thousands of deaths.
Impact and Further Negotiations
The ongoing violence has severely impacted both the Sudanese army and the RSF, stretching their resources thin and exacerbating a humanitarian crisis.
The fighting has slowed down recently, with both sides resorting to long-range artillery. However, the conflict has highlighted the struggle to repair aging warplanes, treat wounded soldiers, and pay exhausted forces
The African Union (AU) and regional body IGAD (Intergovernmental Authority on Development) have joined the Jeddah talks, initially focusing on humanitarian issues, ceasefires, and confidence-building measures to pave the way for a negotiated solution
