Saudi Arabia and the United States called on the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) to agree on and implement a new ceasefire to permanently stop military operations.
In a statement, the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Riyadh and Washington are ready and willing to continue discussions with the delegations of the army and the RSF. The talks have focused on ways to facilitate humanitarian aid and reach an agreement on short-term steps that both parties should take before resuming the Jeddah talks.
The Sudanese army and RSF delegations are still present in the city of Jeddah, despite the suspension of talks and the end of the five-day ceasefire on June 3rd, the statement added.
The statement emphasized that Saudi Arabia and the US are ready to resume formal talks and reminded both parties that they must implement their obligations under the Jeddah Declaration (May 11) to commit to protecting civilians in Sudan.
Saudi Arabia and the US called on both sides to agree to and effectively implement a new ceasefire to build a durable cessation of military operations. The statement reiterated the commitment of Saudi Arabia and the US to the people of Sudan.
The Sudanese military has suspended participation in US and Saudi-sponsored ceasefire talks, accusing the RSF of failing to live up to its commitments. Amid breaches of a truce by both sides in the conflict, the US imposed economic sanctions and visa restrictions on “violent parties” in Sudan on Thursday. The US Treasury also announced sanctions on four companies that it said “feed the parties in the conflict”.
White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said that the US will continue to do everything in its power to prevent the prolonged conflict and suffering in Sudan. He emphasized that Washington and its partners will continue to hold the warring parties accountable for unjustified violence and challenge the will of the Sudanese people.
Meanwhile, on the ground, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) said on Sunday that it shot down a Sudanese army MiG plane which it accused of attacking RSF positions in the Bahri area. Air and artillery bombardments rocked the Sudanese capital Khartoum on Saturday, as the conflict between the army and the RSF entered its eighth week, and heavy clashes cut off communication and internet services in several states. Residents in Khartoum reported air strikes by military aircraft on areas north and south of Khartoum, with anti-aircraft fire from RSF-controlled areas responding. Clashes broke out in Khartoum on Sunday, and explosions, gunfire, and overflights of the East Nile region were heard.
