RIYADH: Sudan’s army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces will commit to facilitating humanitarian aid and implement trust-building measures, a joint statement by Saudi Arabia, the United States, and the regional African bloc Intergovernmental Authority on Development said on Tuesday.
Talks in Jeddah remain focused on a specific set of objectives including facilitating the delivery of humanitarian assistance, establishing ceasefires and other confidence-building measures, and working toward a permanent cessation of hostilities, the statement said.
Reaffirming their obligations under the May 11, 2023 Jeddah Declaration of Commitment to Protect the Civilians of Sudan, both the Sudanese army and RSF committed to the following:
1) Participating in a joint humanitarian forum led by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs to resolve impediments to humanitarian access and deliveries of assistance.
2) Identifying points of contact to assist with the movement of humanitarian personnel and aid.
3) Implementing confidence-building measures related to the following themes:
* The establishment of communication between army and RSF leaders;
* The arrest of prison escapees and fugitives;
* Improving each side’s official media discourse, and reduction of inflammatory rhetoric;
* Taking action against the parties provoking escalation and fueling the conflict.
The army and the RSF affirmed their individual commitment to facilitating the passage of humanitarian aid to both parties.
The mediators expressed their regret that the two parties had not reached an agreement for a ceasefire, the statement said, and urged them “to put the interests of the Sudanese people first, put down their weapons, and engage in negotiations to end this conflict.”
