Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) expressed its willingness to engage in a long-term ceasefire with the army and proposed its vision for a “Sudan Reborn,” which could potentially revive direct talks between the warring factions.
This announcement comes amidst the 20th week of ongoing conflict between the RSF and the army, as both sides continue to battle without claiming victory. The violence has resulted in millions of people being displaced from their homes in the capital and other cities. The United Nations has warned that this situation could lead to a “humanitarian catastrophe of epic proportions,” with hunger, healthcare, and infrastructure crises intensifying. Additionally, the RSF and its allied militias have been accused of ethnic cleansing in West Darfur.
Both factions have blamed each other for the outbreak of the war on April 15. The conflict originated from tensions surrounding the integration of their troops into a unified force as part of Sudan’s transition to democracy. Previously, they had jointly led the country after overthrowing Omar al-Bashir in 2019, subsequently removing civilian politicians from the government in a 2021 coup.
In a late Sunday statement, RSF leader General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo expressed his willingness to negotiate with the army beyond a simple permanent ceasefire. He emphasized the importance of achieving a lasting ceasefire and comprehensive political solutions addressing the underlying causes of Sudan’s conflicts. These propositions have been obstacles to previous Saudi and U.S.-backed mediation efforts.
Dagalo’s “Sudan Reborn” plan commits the RSF to previously suggested principles, such as federal, multicultural governance, democratic elections, and a unified national army.
The statement coincided with the arrival of army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan in Port Sudan on Sunday, marking his first trip outside the capital since the conflict began. Sources have reported that he will have talks in Saudi Arabia and Egypt. However, pro-democracy politicians cautioned against Burhan announcing a new government, as it could prompt the RSF to establish a parallel authority.
Regional mediators have shown openness to including soldiers in a transitional government. Nonetheless, the U.S. ambassador, a key sponsor of Sudan’s post-Bashir transition, expressed on X that “the belligerent parties, who have demonstrated their inability to govern, must end the conflict and transfer power to a civilian transitional government.”
Reporting by Nafisa Eltahir in Cairo and Khalid Abdelaziz in Dubai; Editing by Giles Elgood
Credit: The Star : News Feed
