An Accord Without A Ceasefire! Sudanese Warring Sides Reach Conclusion In Jeddah

Despite the fact that negotiations between delegations of the Sudanese army and the RSF paramilitary group have been ongoing in the Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah since May 6, some Western media have been citing certain American diplomats as saying for several days that the Sudanese warring parties will soon ink a ceasefire agreement. Conversely, the text of the Jeddah statement does not mention a comprehensive truce.

Given the history of such talks and internal agreements in Sudan, the appearance of this agreement seems to be also similar to their last year agreement, which led to the current dispute in the African nation. The fresh agreement is also expected to pave the way for the second phase of the negotiations, which will again be possible with the mediation by Saudi Arabia and the United States. In addition to the issue, the news stories on an accord in Jeddah indicate other important points:

1- No reconciliation has been made over the disputed issues; so, the new agreement is just a move to create optimism concerning the decline of the internal and external process of the crisis in Sudan.

2- The warring parties in the negotiations put forward their own conditions for the cessation of hostilities based on the viewpoint that each of the sides has the upper hand in the Sudanese developments; however, the US and Saudi mediators halted the discussions and called on the parties to conclude a ceasefire agreement and open safe corridors to allow the dispatch of humanitarian aid. That means the settlement of the dispute in Sudan is also subject to wishes of Saudi Arabia and the United States, while other foreign rivals such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Egypt and so on, who have a say in the Sudanese developments, have been sidelined.

Read more: War In Sudan; Negotiations In Saudi Kingdom

What are the conditions of the Sudanese warring parties?

According to statements issued by the Sudanese army officials, the army’s conditions for the cessation of hostilities with the Rapid Support Forces and the opening of safe corridors to dispatch humanitarian aid are as follows:

1- The withdrawal of the Rapid Support Forces from central districts and government buildings of the capital city of Khartoum, including the Khartoum Electricity Distribution Department, the Aljaili Petroleum Refinery as well as residential areas

2- The clearing of trenches and the removal of fronts created during the recent clashes

3- The gathering of the Rapid Support Forces at an agreed military base on the outskirts of Khartoum, which is agreed upon by the Sudanese Armed Forces. The RSF paramilitary group must remain at the military base until a decision is made on their integration into the official armed forces.

The commanders of the RSF paramilitary group also proposed their own conditions:

1- The payment of salaries of the personnel of the Rapid Support Forces by the Sudanese Ministry of Finance

2- The suspension of military flights by the Sudanese Armed Forces as well as the deployment of foreign observers to monitor the cessation of hostilities

3- The assurances for a safe exit route for the commanders and personnel of the Rapid Support Forces from Khartoum to a predetermined destination

4- The authorization to assemble all paramilitary forces, military equipment from the positions of the Rapid Support Forces even in areas where they were stationed before the onset of the recent confrontations

5- The permission for the deployment of the Rapid Support Forces in all positions that they control at present and the provision of medical services to the RSF injured personnel at hospitals

What is the framework of the Jeddah statement?

The delegates of the Sudanese Armed Forces as well as the Rapid Support Forces issued a joint statement dubbed “Jeddah Statement” on May 12 after six days of negotiations in the presence of representatives from the United States and Saudi Arabia.

In the Jeddah Statement, the Sudanese warring parties agreed upon guaranteeing safety of lives and properties of civilians, protecting civilian facilities, creating safe humanitarian routes as well as preserving sovereignty and integrity of Sudan. International organizations are also expected to monitor the implementation of the warring sides’ commitments by the use of satellites, field reports and news stories come from social media networks.

The Jeddah Statement does not mention a comprehensive end of hostilities; however, the American authorities called it a first step toward reaching a ceasefire agreement.

In general, the statement or agreement is not sufficient and effective to pave the ground for resolving the current crisis in Sudan because of the lack of an all-inclusive truce and assessing the implementation of the parties’ conditions as well as the precise monitoring of the warring side’s commitments.

In 28 days of civil war in Sudan, more than 500 people lost their lives and 3,000 others were injured, while tens of thousands were also displaced and foreign countries evacuated their nationals and diplomats from the African country.

The mentioned issues along with Sudan’s economic and political woes indicate a looming crisis that will not be simply resolved even with the complete cessation of hostilities and the formation of an all-inclusive government.

Read more: Understanding Warring Parties In Sudan; Reviewing Latest Field Situation (Map)