2023-04-18 04:23:27
The chief diplomats of the G7 countries called on Tuesday April 18 for an “immediate” end to the fighting in the Sudanwhere clashes between the regular army and paramilitary forces have already left nearly 200 dead since Saturday.
“We urge all parties to immediately end the violence, de-escalate tensions and restore civilian rule in Sudan,” foreign ministers of major industrialized countries said after meeting in Japan .
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken for his part spoke separately on Tuesday with the two rival generals fighting for power in Sudan and insisted “on the urgency of achieving a ceasefire”, according to his spokesperson Vedant Patel. A ceasefire “would make it possible to provide humanitarian aid to people affected by the fighting, to reunite Sudanese families (dispersed by the fighting, editor’s note) and to ensure the safety of members of the international community in Khartoum”, according to the words of Antony Blinken reported by Vedant Patel.
The clashes in Sudan since Saturday between the regular army of General Abdel Fattah al-Burhane and the paramilitary forces of his former ally, General Mohamed Hamdane Daglo, known as “Hemedti”, have already left nearly 200 dead and at least 1,800 wounded, according to the UN.
Speaking on Monday against the backdrop of shelling and ground fighting in Khartoum as well as other cities across the country, UN envoy to Sudan Volker Perthes told reporters via video link that neither side seemed unwilling to negotiate. He announced an agreement on a three-hour humanitarian truce but, according to Al Jazeera and Al Arabiya television channels, clashes continued despite promises to that effect from rival camps.
Egypt and the United Arab Emirates have started separate work on ceasefire proposals, two Egyptian security sources said, but no progress has been made so far.
While Cairo is the Sudanese army’s main foreign backer and has long been wary of any political change in the country, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi has said he is in regular contact with the army and RSF to to “encourage them to accept a truce and spare the blood of the Sudanese people”.
The clashes come as a transition agreement to civilian rule, reached under international mediation, was due to be formally signed earlier this month.
With Archyde.com and AFP
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