Sudan conflict: RSF and Sudanese army to hold talks in Saudi Arabia

 

The Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces are set to hold direct talks in Jeddah, a Saudi Arabian port city on the Red Sea, on Saturday.

The United States and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia confirmed that direct talks would take place soon. Riyadh and Washington will act as the mediator. The US and Saudi governments called for an end to the conflict that killed many people.

Reportedly, the conflict between two rival factions of Sudan's defence forces – Rapid Support Forces and Sudan’s Armed Forces (SAF) – has killed more than 700 people. The conflict also injured thousands of people.

A joint US-Saudi statement confirmed the “start of pre-negotiation talks” between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese army. The joint statement read, “The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States urge both parties to take into consideration the interests of the Sudanese nation and its people and actively engage in the talks toward a ceasefire and end to the conflict.”

Earlier, the United Kingdom, the United States, Saudi Arabia, the League of Arab States, the African Union and other groups urged the two Sudanese rivals to end the conflict.

The conflict started between the two groups on April 15. The ongoing conflict has affected the peace and security of the conflict. The direct talks between the two groups in Saudi Arabia are the first serious attempt to end the conflict in the region.

Multiple truces have been agreed upon in recent weeks. However, it did not help to end the fighting. The conflict has already pushed Sudan to the brink of collapse.

Sudan's Forces of Freedom and Change, a political group, welcomed the recent move to end the conflict in Sudan. The Sudanese army said it has sent a delegation to Jeddah on Friday to hold direct talks with the paramilitary force.