JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia welcomed the resumption of peace talks between Sudan’s warring factions in Jeddah on Thursday as the six-month-old war continues, the Foreign Ministry said.
The talks between Sudan’s regular army and the rival paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) were sponsored by the Kingdom and the US, in partnership with a joint representative of the African Union and the Intergovernmental Authority for Development.
In a statement released by the Saudi Foreign Ministry, the Kingdom urged both sides to build on their commitments under the May 11 Jeddah Declaration of Principles to Protect the Civilians of Sudan and the short-term ceasefire agreement signed on May 20.
Saudi Arabia and the US had suspended talks in June after numerous ceasefire violations.
Fighting broke out in mid-April over plans for the RSF to be integrated into the army and over the future chain of command under an internationally backed deal to shift Sudan toward democracy after decades of conflict-ridden autocracy.
Since then, fighting has caused what UN aid chief Martin Griffiths has called “one of the worst humanitarian nightmares in recent history,” displacing almost 6 million people and killing thousands.
The Kingdom reiterated its support for efforts to reach a political agreement that would put an end to the violence, which has plunged Sudan into chaos.
Through sponsoring talks, Saudi Arabia aims to foster an agreement that would “bring security, stability and prosperity to the people of Sudan,” read the Foreign ministry’s statement.
