Internal and local efforts, as well as negotiation initiatives, to contain the crisis between the commander of the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), have essentially come to a halt, according to Sudanese and international organizations, as the warring parties refuse to communicate.
According to a source from the Forces for Freedom and Change-Democratic Block (FFC-DB) coalition, international activities have halted owing to communication issues between the two sides. The FFC-DB demanded a halt to the fighting and a return to the negotiating table.
In a statement issued yesterday, the mainstream FFC (FFC-Central Council) also urged the leaders of the SAF and RSF to immediately halt military clashes and return to the negotiation table.
According to a member of the AU-IGAD-UN Trilateral Mechanism, communication with the two groups fighting in Sudan is tough.
Yet, local and international parties continue to push for a cease-fire and a return of discussions.
In the run-up to the escalation of long-simmering tensions, demands from the international community to halt the conflict mounted, but to no avail.
According to Intelligence Africa, Saudi officials “tried to patch things up” between Commanders Lt Gen Abdelfattah El Burhan of the SAF and Lt Gen Mohamed ‘Hemeti’ Dagalo of the RSF “up to the last second,” but the two chose to go to war despite all attempts.
China is one of the most recent countries to join a long list of those denouncing the violence and calling for a truce.
After an emergency meeting of the African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council in Addis Abeba yesterday, the AU said that the chairman of its commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, is ready to fly to Sudan “immediately” to urge the parties to a ceasefire. There were no other information provided about the planned trip.
The union voiced “great worry” about the outbreak of violence and urged SAF and RSF to safeguard people.
‘Internal matter’
On the request of Egypt and Saudi Arabia, the African Union Peace and Security Council and the Arab League met in Cairo yesterday for an emergency meeting on the Sudanese violence.
At the discussion, Sudanese Embassy in Egypt Chargé d’Affaires El Sadig Omar stated that “what is occurring in Sudan is an internal affair, but the efforts of brotherly Arab countries are essential to assist calm the situation in the country.”
“We request that this gathering approve this subject and suggest that the Sudanese conclude the settlement without foreign intervention.”
