US Commends Saudi Hosting: Ceasefire Talks in Sudan Resumed

On Sunday, November 7, the US State Department announced that the United States, Saudi Arabia, and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, comprising a trade alliance of seven African countries along with the African Union, have resumed humanitarian and ceasefire negotiations between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces. Matthew Miller, spokesperson for the US State Department, stated, "There is no acceptable military solution to the conflict in Sudan. We urge the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces to constructively engage in negotiations, considering the necessity of preserving human lives, reducing conflicts, and creating a pathway to de-escalate tensions." The US State Department's statement expressed appreciation for Saudi Arabia's hosting of these negotiations, noting that in accordance with the commitments of the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces under the May 11 agreement, the talks in Jeddah have limited objectives, including facilitating humanitarian aid, establishing a ceasefire, and other confidence-building measures aimed at a permanent cessation of hostilities. The statement highlighted that these negotiations do not address broader political issues and emphasize the "key role of civilians in Sudan in determining their own fate and defining the process for resolving political issues and reviving Sudan's democratic transition." The Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces reiterated their core commitments under international humanitarian law to facilitate humanitarian actions and meet the needs of civilians in a May 11, 2023 agreement signed in Jeddah. The parties also stated, "We reaffirm our unwavering commitment to the sovereignty of Sudan and the preservation of its unity and territorial integrity." Since the outbreak of the power struggle between the army and the paramilitary forces known as the Rapid Support Forces on April 15, more than 3 million people have been displaced, with over 700,000 fleeing to neighboring countries. The leaders of the army and the Rapid Support Forces have jointly chaired a council since the ousting of Omar al-Bashir in 2019 but have disagreed on how to transition to democracy. Furthermore, on Thursday, September 28, the US State Department announced sanctions against a former Sudanese government minister and two companies involved in the conflicts with the Sudanese army. According to the department's statement, Ali Karti, the secretary-general of the extremist Islamist group "Sudanese Islamic Movement," has been sanctioned. Ali Karti was the foreign minister under Omar al-Bashir's government and, after the regime's ousting, led efforts to undermine the previous civilian government and derail the so-called "Framework Political Agreement" process. The US State Department's statement added that Ali Karti and other officials from al-Bashir's regime obstruct efforts to achieve a ceasefire between the army and the Rapid Support Forces and to resume the transition to democracy in Sudan. The US has sanctioned a former official and two Sudanese entities for undermining the peace process. The increase in cholera and dengue fever outbreaks in eastern Sudan; the UN: In addition to poverty and conflict, climate change is to blame. Continued fighting in Sudan; the number of hungry people has reached 20 million. The civil war in Sudan has reached 100 days. Warning about the "collapse" of Sudan's health system; 49,000 cancer patients are at risk of death. The UN reported the discovery of "a mass grave" in Sudan. The consequences of three months of fighting in Sudan: the number of refugees and asylum seekers has reached 3 million.