Global Courant 2023-04-25 13:15:45
The Sudanese Army and the Rapid Support Forces (FAR) paramilitary group have so far respected the 72-hour ceasefire.
Khartoum dawned calm this Tuesday for the first time since fighting broke out ten days ago between the Sudanese Army and the Rapid Support Forces (FAR) paramilitary group, thanks to the 72-hour ceasefire that the parties in dispute agreed with the US mediation.
Both the Army and the FAR announced in their respective communiqués that they will comply with the new truce (the sixth since April 15), which came into force this Monday, as announced by the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken. , who asked the sides for a “permanent cessation of hostilities”.
Although the FAR denounced that Army fighters have been flying over various suburbs of Khartoum since early Tuesday morning, no bombings or combats have been reported as was the case in the previous ceasefires.
“We renew our absolute commitment to the humanitarian truce declared for a period of 72 hours, which we agreed to and committed to in all its conditions in order to open humanitarian corridors for citizens and national residents of brother and friendly countries,” the group said. of the FAR.
Kenyans and Somalis are evacuated from the Sudanese capital, Khartoum. Photo: Tony KARUMBA/AFP.
And he completed: “We point out that the second part did not abide by the terms of the armistice, since its (combat) planes are still in the skies of Khartoum (…), which represents a clear violation of the armistice and its conditions that must be implemented “.
For its part, the Sudanese Army confirmed its respect for the pause “to alleviate the suffering of our citizens and for humanitarian reasons, on the condition that the rebels undertake to stop all hostilities and meet the requirements for their continuation.”
“We hope that this will contribute to creating appropriate humanitarian conditions for our citizens and residents in the country,” he added.
mass exodus
The new truce comes amid the exodus of thousands of Sudanese to safe areas in Sudan and other neighboring countries, and while dozens of countries have evacuated their citizens and withdrawn their diplomatic personnel in recent days from the African country, including the United States. .
Egypt, Sudan’s northern neighbor and a country that hosts a large Sudanese colony, has announced an emergency at the border posts with the African country to facilitate the arrival of thousands of Egyptians and Sudanese to its territories.
Members of the Italian armed forces in the evacuation of Khartoum. Photo EFE
The fighting, which is taking place mainly in Khartoum and Darfur, in the west of this country of 45 million people, broke out on April 15 between the army of General Abdel Fatah al Burhan, Sudan’s de facto ruler since the 2021 coup, and his rival, General Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, leader of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (FAR).
The new ceasefire was announced on Monday by the head of US diplomacy who urged the Sudanese Army and the FAR to respect and immediately apply this arrangement, and to negotiate a permanent cessation of hostilities.
Blinken affirmed that the US will coordinate with its regional allies to “support the creation of a committee to oversee the negotiation to implement a permanent cessation of hostilities” in Sudan, and reiterated Washington’s commitment to make the African country count again. with a civilian government.
With information from EFE.
