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Sudanese Army gives its commitment to ceasefire

Tuesday, May 23rd, 2023 11:00 | By
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah Al-Saud stands along with other officials as representatives of the Sudanese army and rival paramilitary Rapid Support Forces sign an agreement for ceasefore. - Xinhua

The Sudanese Army announced on Sunday its commitment to the Agreement on a Short-Term Cease-fire and Humanitarian Arrangements it signed with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the Saudi Arabian port city of Jeddah late Saturday.

“The armed forces announce their commitment to the agreement and hope the RSF will abide by what it says,” the Sudanese army spokesman said in a statement. “The duration of the short-term cease-fire is seven days and will enter into force on Monday at 9:45 p.m. local time (1945 GMT),” the statement said. On Saturday night, the Sudanese Army and the RSF signed the cease-fire deal under Saudi-U.S. patronage. Under the deal, each party shall implement the agreement in full and ensure that all forces under their command and control observe it at all times and in full. In the deal, the parties commit to guarantee the freedom of movement of civilians throughout the country and protect civilians from violence, harassment, recruitment, or other abuse, as well as refrain from any violations of international human rights law.

The parties shall also provide security guarantees for safe, unhindered access by humanitarian agencies. The agreement does not touch on the discussion of political situation, according to the statement. Sudan has been witnessing deadly armed clashes between the Sudanese Army and the RSF in the capital Khartoum and other areas since April 15.

Regional organizations and countries on Sunday welcomed the week-long ceasefire agreement reached between Sudanese warring parties late Saturday in Saudi Arabia.

Arab League (AL) said in a statement on Sunday that it welcomed the Agreement on a Short-Term Cease-fire and Humanitarian Arrangements, which will facilitate the delivery of emergency humanitarian aid and the restoration of basic services in Sudan.

AL Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit stressed the necessity for the two warring parties to fully implement the agreement, noting that the recently concluded AL summit in Jeddah has discussed the Sudanese crisis and issued a resolution to support the negotiation talks. Also on Sunday, Jasem Mohamed AlBudaiwi, Secretary General of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC), expressed a welcome to the new cease-fire truce, reported the Saudi Press Agency

. The Egyptian Foreign Ministry also said in a statement on the same day that Egypt welcomed the Sudanese short-term truce, hoping the armistice will be extended after its expiration in order to reach a comprehensive and sustainable ceasefire agreement. “The duration of the short-term cease-fire is seven days and will enter into force on Monday at 9:45 p.m. local time (1945 GMT),” said the Sudanese Army in a statement on Sunday.                         

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