Antony Blinken warns Sudan’s warring sides against violating ceasefire
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Salma Hossein
- . May 24, 2023
- . Update: May 24, 2023 10:42 pm
Saudi Arabia and the US highlighted on Tuesday the importance of a ceasefire signed between Sudan’s warring parties on May 20 in Jeddah, urging them to not violate the agreement.
The Saudi foreign ministry said: “… neither side observed its commitment not to seek military advantage during the 48-hour period” after the truce agreement was signed and before it went into effect.
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While occasional artillery fire was still heard in the capital, Khartoum, on Tuesday, residents said the fighting had calmed.
Although the conflict appeared to be relatively less intense, the facilitators conveyed to the parties involved reports indicating both sides didn’t adhere to their commitments, the statement read. Those included reported offensive operations in the capital and El-Obeid, it added.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday raised warnings against violating the ceasefire, bringing the possibility of imposing sanctions under spotlight. “We facilitated the ceasefire” but it’s the duty of the SAF and RSF to implement it, he added.
Blinken called the weeks-long fighting in Sudan “tragic, senseless and devastating.”
The North African country descended into chaos after major clashes erupted on April 15 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), led by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo.
Also Read – Saudi’s foreign minister and US Secretary Blinken call for an end to the fighting in Sudan
The violence has already killed over 860 civilians, while injuring more than 3,500 others to varying severities, according to the Doctors’ Syndicate. But the actual impact could be much greater than reported. The current ceasefire is intended to restore essential services and bring the Sudanese people the humanitarian assistance they are in dire need of.
Despite previous truce agreements failing to survive long, will this one stay put for a week – its shelf life?
