Informed sources reported that senior leaders from the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces met 3 times this month in Bahrain, in the first communication of this degree between the two warring sides in the conflict that has been raging for 9 months.
Sources explained that officials from Egypt, the Emirates, the United States and Saudi Arabia attended the unannounced talks in Manama, which came after repeated attempts by the two powers and also by East African countries to mediate a ceasefire and reach a political agreement to end the war without achieving significant progress, according to Reuters. “.
The sources indicated that the Sudanese army in the Bahraini capital, Manama, was represented by Major General Shams al-Din Kabbashi, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, and the Rapid Support Forces was represented by Major General Abdul Rahim Dagalo, brother of the Commander of the Rapid Support Forces, Muhammad Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti).
One of the participants said that the two sides agreed in principle on a declaration of principles that includes preserving the unity of Sudan and its army.
The source added that further talks were planned to discuss the ceasefire, but a follow-up meeting was postponed last week.
In this context, informed sources reported to “Sky News Arabia” that the state of South Sudan is working to arrange a direct meeting between the commanders of the Sudanese army, Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, and the Rapid Support Forces, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, in Juba, commissioned by the IGAD organization.
What is happening in Sudan?
- The war broke out in Sudan last April due to disagreements over the powers of the army and the Rapid Support Forces as part of an internationally supported plan for a political transition towards civilian rule and holding elections.
- The army and Rapid Support Forces shared power with civilians after the fall of former President Omar al-Bashir in a popular uprising in 2019, before participating in a coup two years later.
- The fighting has devastated parts of Sudan, including the capital, Khartoum, killing more than 13,000 people, according to United Nations estimates, sparking warnings of famine and a displacement crisis.
Battle developments
- The Rapid Support Forces control most parts of Khartoum and western Sudan, where they are accused of ethnic cleansing. They have recently achieved rapid military progress that has raised fears of the possible disintegration of the country, the third largest country in Africa.
- The Sudanese army advanced to retake areas of the capital, and recruited and armed civilians in areas under its control.
Al-Burhan and Hamidati
- Hemedti postponed a scheduled summit with Lieutenant General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, commander of the Sudanese army, in Djibouti, which regional mediators said the two men agreed to and cited technical problems as a reason for Hemedti not going despite his travel to other countries.
- Burhan said in meetings with soldiers this week that the war will continue unless negotiations result in RSF soldiers being brought to justice and civilians returned to their homes.
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2024-02-01 04:28:29
