US, Saudi Arabian monitors report ceasefire 'progress' in Sudan

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The United States and Saudi Arabia represented as peace brokers in Sudan, said on Friday that they have been observing "improved respect" for the recent ceasefire agreement reached by Sudanese armed forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group since May 25.

In a joint statement published by the US Embassy in Khartoum, the facilitators said that "the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States of America noted improved respect for the Agreement on a Short-Term Ceasefire and Humanitarian Arrangements in Sudan on May 25. Although there was observed use of military aircraft and isolated gunfire in Khartoum, the situation improved from May 24 when the ceasefire monitoring mechanism detected significant breaches of the Agreement." 

The ceasefire monitors intervened after the warring Sudanese parties were seen using artillery, military aircraft, and drones on Wednesday, with ongoing fighting in Khartoum and the western Darfur province, according to the statement. "They cautioned the parties against further violations and implored them to improve respect for the ceasefire on May 25, which they did. On May 25, humanitarian actors delivered some urgently needed medical supplies to several locations in Sudan," the facilitators added.

Violent clashes erupted between Sudan's regular armed forces and the RSF on April 15, with Khartoum serving as the epicenter. The government forces accused the RSF of mutiny and launched airstrikes against their bases.

Sudan's military leader, Abdel Fattah Burhan, issued a decree disbanding the RSF. The parties have since implemented a number of short-term ceasefires, but the conflict is still ongoing. However, the United Nations hopes that the latest week-long ceasefire, which has been in effect since Monday night, will pave the way for peace talks and bring an end to the violence, which has killed over 860 people and injured 3,500 more.

On another note, Sudan's warring sides had accused each other, on Thursday, of being behind violations of the latest ceasefire that was mediated by the US and Saudi Arabia on its third day.

The one-week truce was breached only minutes after it was put into effect on Monday night, with residents of the capital Khartoum reporting airstrikes and artillery fire rocking the city.

There have now been other violations of the ceasefire deal, which is intended to allow much-needed humanitarian supplies to reach war-torn areas of the North African country. It is the latest in a series of fragile ceasefires that have all been systematically violated.