Another ceasefire in Sudan but no optimism

18.06.2023

American and Saudi mediators announced a new three-day ceasefire agreement in Sudan, according to Sudan Tribune. The mediators warned that if the parties fail to adhere to the 72-hour ceasefire, the facilitators will consider suspending the Jeddah talks.

American and Saudi mediators announced a new three-day ceasefire agreement in Sudan. They warned that if the parties fail to adhere to the 72-hour ceasefire, the facilitators will consider suspending the Jeddah talks.https://t.co/SaDmx3ukyX pic.twitter.com/Enpnvgpwbb

— Sudan Tribune (@SudanTribune_EN) June 17, 2023

Air strikes killed civilians and pummelled multiple parts of the Sudanese capital on Saturday, Reuters reports, as warring military factions agreed to another ceasefire in a series that have failed to stop the
violence.

Fighting between the Sudanese army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) is entering its third month with neither side gaining a clear advantage. So far, the conflict has displaced 2.2 million Sudanese in what the UN has said it is a “humanitarian calamity”. The conflict has killed more than 3,000 people
and injured more than 6,000 according to Sudan’s health minister.

Late on Saturday, the United States and Saudi Arabia said the two factions had agreed to a new 72-hour ceasefire beginning on Sunday morning. Previous truces have not brought fighting to a complete halt.

According to Reuters, the army has the advantage of air power in Khartoum and its neighbouring cities Omdurman and Bahri, while the RSF has embedded itself in residential neighbourhoods. On Friday and
Saturday the army appeared to ramp up air strikes, hitting several residential neighbourhoods.
In a speech posted by the army on Friday, top general Yassir Al-Atta warned people to stay away from homes the RSF had occupied. “Because at this point, we will attack them anywhere,”
he said, adding “Between us and these rebels are bullets”.

GSPI