The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has welcomed the resumption of talks between representatives of the Sudanese army and representatives of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Jeddah, which will start Thursday, facilitated by Saudi Arabia and the United States, in partnership with a joint representative from both the African Union (AU) and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD).
In a statement issued by the Saudi Foreign Affairs ministry, Saudi Arabia “urged the Sudanese army and the RSF to resume what was agreed upon between them in the Jeddah Declaration of Commitment to Protect the Civilians of Sudan on May 11, 2023, and to abide by the short-term ceasefire agreement signed by both parties in the city of Jeddah on May 20, 2023.
“The Kingdom emphasizes its commitment to unity and the importance of wisdom, putting an end to conflicts, preserving lives, alleviating the suffering of the Sudanese people, offering support for resolving this crisis and enabling Sudan to reach a political agreement that guarantees security, stability, and prosperity for Sudan and its brotherly people.” The statement added.
The negotiations between the Sudanese army and the RSF in Jeddah had stalled in June 2023. The Sudanese army withdrew from the process, citing violations of the agreed ceasefire by the RSF.
The conflict between the Sudanese army and RSF began on April 15 due to tensions related to a proposed transition to civilian rule. After approximately six months of fighting, the United Nations estimates that around 9,000 people have lost their lives, and an additional 5.6 million individuals have fled their homes.