Sudan’s Warring Sides Agree To Protect Civilians As Ceasefire Talks Continue

Posted by: lukwago J in African News May 12, 2023

Sudan’s warring sides on Friday ( May 12 ) signed an agreement and committed to protect civilians and the movement of humanitarian aid.

However this is nearly a week following the US-Saudi Arabia brokered talks between the Sudanese Army and the paramilitary faction rapid support forces began in Jeddah.

A report from the AFP media citing a US involvement in what has been dubbed as Pre-negotiation talks said that the two sides have signed the agreement on a declaration of commitment to protect the civilians of Sudan.

…”We affirm our commitment to ensuring the protection of civilians at times including by allowing safe passage for civilians to leave areas of active hostilities on voluntary basis in the direction of their choice,”the declaration stated.

However the agreement in question largely implies that both sides will let humanitarian assistance, allow the restoration of electricity, water and other basic services.

In addition the two sides will further allow the withdraw of security forces from hospitals and arrange for respectful burial of the dead.

Ceasefire deal to reach up to ten days

“ The two sides are quite far apart,”a US department official speaking on condition of anonymity told Reuters.

Officials also said that the negotiations are working with Saudi and US mediators and set a goal of reaching a ceasefire deal in up to 10 days.

“ This isn’t a ceasefire. This is an affirmation of their obligations under international humanitarian law particularly with regard to the treatment of civilians and the need to create space for humanitarians to operate,”the US official told AFP.

Meanwhile the two sides have been fighting for nearly a month and as of Thursday the fighting has rocked Halfaya an entry point to the capital city of Khartoum.

However the fighting has been reportedly calmer than the previous days.

According to the World Health Organisation over 600 people have been killed and more than 5000 injured in the fighting. The country’s health minister said that at least 450 people were killed in the western Darfur region alone.

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