2023-05-21 00:40:00
He Sudan Army and Rapid Support Force (FAR) paramilitary group They agreed to a one-week humanitarian truce, to allow the work of health personnel and the repair of basic service facilities, in the midst of the clashes between the two parties, which have been going on for more than a month and have left more than a million displaced.
“The short-term truce, which enters into force 48 hours after the signing of the agreement, will remain in force for seven days and may be extended with the agreement of both parties,” the US State Department said. in a statement announcing the deal.
The agreement, mediated by the United States and Saudi Arabiawas signed in the Saudi city of Jeddah, before the local foreign minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan.
“The parties agreed to facilitate the delivery and distribution of humanitarian aid, restore essential services and withdraw forces from hospitals and essential public facilities,” the statement said, noting that they also agreed to facilitate the safe passage of humanitarian personnel and basic goods, so that they reach the people who need them without problem.
A context of confrontations
Sudan is experiencing a serious crisis following the April 2019 overthrow of President Omar al Bashir, who ruled the country for nearly three decades.
Since April 15, it has been the scene of clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces, led by General Abdel Fattah al Burhan, president of the Sovereign Transitional Council of Sudan, and the FAR, a paramilitary group that obeys the orders of General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo..
Al Burhan has been the de facto leader of Sudan since the October 25, 2021 coup carried out together with Dagalo, when both military leaders joined forces to oust the civilians who came to power on an interim basis after the ouster of Al Bashir.
But over time the tensions between the two generals grew, which led to the current fighting.
The disagreements between the two rival factions are mainly based on the future of the paramilitaries and their integration into the Armed Forces.
On May 12, the parties signed an agreement, the first since the start of their conflict, which seeks to minimize harm to civilians.
“It is well known that the parties have previously announced truces that have not been respected. Unlike previous ceasefires, the agreement reached in Jeddah was signed by the parties and will be supported by a US-backed monitoring mechanism. , Saudi Arabia and the international community,” the State Department said.
Since mid-April, the two sides have waged several clashes in the capital Khartoum with shelling, shooting and explosions, leaving millions of Sudanese barricaded in their homes in sweltering heat, without running water or electricity.
At the same time, the number of people displaced by the fighting surpassed the million barrier, including more than 250,000 refugees who fled to neighboring countries due to hostilities, according to a report released this week by the International Organization for Migration (IOM). .
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the 35 days of combat have already left 705 deaths and 5,287 people injured.
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