Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), at war with the regular army for more than two years, on Thursday announced that it had agreed to a proposal for a humanitarian truce put forward by mediators.
The announcement follows the capture of the major city of El Fasher, which dislodged the army from its last stronghold in the vast western Darfur region.
The RSF has since been accused of mass killings, looting and sexual violence there, and has appeared to turn the focus to the neighboring Kordofan region, where fierce battles are under way.
Photo: Reuters
“In response to the aspirations and interests of the Sudanese people, the Rapid Support Forces affirms its agreement to enter into the humanitarian truce proposed by the Quad countries,” the RSF said in a statement, referring to the US, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.
The military-aligned government did not immediately comment on the RSF’s announcement.
Earlier in the day, army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan had said his forces were still “striving for the defeat of the enemy.”
“Soon, we will avenge those who have been killed and abused ... in all the regions attacked by the rebels,” he said in a televised address.
The Sudanese government had indicated earlier this week that it would press on with the war following an internal meeting on a ceasefire proposal.
The US Department of State on Thursday called on both sides to finalize the truce, “given the immediate urgency of de-escalating the violence and ending the suffering of the Sudanese people.”
A senior official from fellow mediator Saudi Arabia said that the mediators’ plan outlined a “three-month humanitarian truce in all Sudan.”
During the ceasefire, efforts would be made to bring the RSF and army together for talks in Jeddah on a permanent peace deal, he said, without offering further details.
In its statement, the RSF said the ceasefire was needed “to address the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of the war and to enhance the protection of civilians,” as well as to “ensure the urgent delivery of humanitarian assistance.”
The RSF has been accused of committing widespread atrocities after seizing El Fasher following an 18-month siege marked by starvation and bombardments.
Yale researchers on Thursday reported new satellite imagery that showed activity “consistent with mass graves” being dug in the city of El Fasher.
The report identified at least two earth disturbances consistent with mass graves at a mosque and the former children’s hospital.
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