Today's Edition
ASMAA AL-HUSSEINI (KHARTOUM)
The United Nations called on the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces to implement the “Jeddah Meeting” outcomes , including protecting civilians and providing unimpeded humanitarian access.
On Wednesday, the “Jeddah Meeting” resulted in the approval of commitments on both sides of the crisis in Sudan. Some of the commitments include the establishment of a communication mechanism between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces leadership and identifying contact points to facilitate the passage and transit of humanitarian and aid workers.
However, according to a statement by the Saudi Foreign Ministry, the consultations did not result in agreements to implement the ceasefire.
A statement issued by the United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator, Clementine Nkweta-Salami, said: “The statement of commitments adopted by the parties to the crisis in Sudan in Jeddah represents a moment of truth for the country, and the promises made by the Sudanese Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces to protect civilians and provide unimpeded humanitarian access are promises that must be fulfilled.”
The statement added that the concrete commitments that have been agreed upon must be followed by immediate and tangible actions, highlighting the importance of removing any obstacles that prevent access to life-saving relief.
Sudanese politicians and experts welcomed the decisions of the “Jeddah Meeting”, describing it as a positive step. They called for increasing efforts to introduce a ceasefire in the country to end the ongoing crisis.
Sharif Mohamed Osman, Political Secretary of the Sudanese Congress Party, told Aletihad that the agreement represents a positive step, as it includes the formation of a joint mechanism with the United Nations to deliver humanitarian aid, as well as a mechanism for communication between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces and the arrest of prison escapees.
In addition to measures related to reducing the intensity of media discourse, he expressed his belief that the agreement established practical measures to reach a ceasefire and end the crisis.
The Federal Gathering described the “Jeddah Meeting” as a step forward towards reaching a comprehensive and permanent ceasefire agreement.
The Darfur Bar Association welcomed the agreement and expressed its hope that both parties would commit to stopping the fighting and responding to humanitarian pledges.
Sudanese political analyst Wael Mahjoub told Aletihad that the “Jeddah Meeting” lays the foundation for serious negotiations that could end the fighting if both parties adhere to the measures and procedures they signed.
Mahjoub added that these measures clearly mean stopping hostilities, hate speech, polarisation, and media escalation, with the aim of creating a climate that helps and facilitates the dialogue process and absorbs the violent mobilisation that has been generated since the outbreak of the crisis. These measures also mean re-arresting the leaders of the former regime who were released from prisons, as they were fuelling the fighting, he added.
Rasha Awad, Sudanese journalist and Editor-in-Chief of Al-Tagheer newspaper, told Aletihad that “hope is still pinned on the Jeddah platform, and that failure to reach a ceasefire should not cause frustration and despair. There are arrangements on the ground that must be completed first so that the mediators can ensure the success of the ceasefire that will eventually take place.
The mediators want to ensure that the leaders of both sides are actually able to control their forces in the field. Facilitating the delivery of humanitarian aid and opening safe corridors will be a real test of the extent of their ability. The leaders of both parties must control their forces”.
Fayez Al-Sheikh Al-Salik, Sudanese writer and political analyst, also told Aletihad that the most prominent outcomes of the meetings are the necessary confidence-building steps, as advocates of escalation obstruct any direction towards a ceasefire. Al-Salik also stressed the importance of agreeing to return the fugitives to prisons.
