OAN Roy Francis
Updated 12:50 PM – Tuesday, May 2, 2023
Two military factions in Sudan, the Sudan National Army (SAF) and the militia’s Rapid Assistance Force (RSF), have agreed to a seven-day ceasefire, according to a statement released by the South Sudan Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday.
The two factions also agreed to send representatives for peace talks as the country neared full-blown civil war.
South Sudan’s foreign ministry released a statement on Tuesday, arguing that mediation defended by President Salva Kiir resulted in both sides agreeing to extend the temporary cessation of hostilities.New extension from 4 May when the current ceasefire expiresth-11th is scheduled to be held.
However, eyewitnesses report that the current ceasefire has not been maintained as airstrikes have been reported in the cities of Omdurman and Bari. Both are located across the Nile from Tuesday’s capital, Khartoum.
Sudanese military fighters were reportedly targeting RSF positions in the capital, but anti-aircraft guns were also heard in Khartoum. The conflict also extended to the western Dafur region of the country, where he RSF first emerged from tribal militias in the region.
Fighting in the country has begun for three straight weeks after multiple ceasefires have failed. The fighting also completely engulfed the city of Khartoum, his one of Africa’s largest cities.
At least 528 people were killed in the fighting and about 4,600 wounded, according to the United Nations, although officials believe the number is much higher. Amid ongoing fighting, some 80,000 people have been forced to flee the country with limited or no access to food and water. The United Nations Organization for Migration also said about 330,000 Sudanese are displaced within the country’s borders because of the conflict.
UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffs said the country’s humanitarian situation had “brought to a breaking point” with looting of humanitarian aid offices and warehouses that had depleted most of the supplies.
“We are looking for emergency ways to bring in and distribute additional supplies,” Griffiths said, adding that emergency medical care is “severely constrained, increasing the risk of preventable deaths.” added.
Volker Perthes, Sudan’s special representative to the United Nations, said international powers are working with both sides of the conflict to initiate peace talks.
“There are no direct negotiations and there are preparations for negotiations,” he said.
However, Sudanese military leader General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan had previously said he would not hold peace talks with RSF leader General Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, and Dagalo also said the army had been suspended. All the hostility said they would not discuss peace talks until they did.
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