During a press briefing, the officials considered that the Jeddah Declaration represents “the first step of what we want to achieve in Sudan”, noting that “there will be further discussions on what needs to be done in the next step”.
Here are highlights of the commentary by US State Department officials on the initial agreement signed between the Sudanese military and the Rapid Support Forces:
A more effective mechanism for monitoring the ceasefire in Sudan has been developed.
- We will use several mechanisms to monitor the ceasefire, some of which are traditional and depend on civil society and activists, while others will rely on modern means such as artificial intelligence and social media .
Representatives of both parties to the conflict and of the international community will participate in the ceasefire monitoring mechanism.
- This mechanism will allow us to document violations of the ceasefire, and therefore use it in accountability later.
We have had difficult talks with both parties to the conflict in Sudan.
- Saudi Arabia has made great efforts to bring the two sides to the conflict to meet in Jeddah.
- We contacted several civil society representatives to explain the purpose of the Jeddah meetings and the steps that are supposed to follow.
- Among the points that the representatives of civil society wanted, there was that we explain to the parties to the conflict the need for them to participate in possible future talks.
The principles of the Jeddah Declaration must lead us to a permanent ceasefire.
We were trying to explain to both parties to the conflict that there are other ways to compete without destroying the country.
- We have given recommendations to the parties to the conflict to facilitate the start of humanitarian aid.
All of our partners in Africa and the Arab world are concerned about the impact of the conflict in Sudan on its regional environment.
The most striking elements of the advertisement signed in Jeddah
The Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces emphasize the need to allow safe passage for aid workers. Commitment to the sovereignty of Sudan and the preservation of its unity and territorial integrity. The interests and security of the Sudanese people are a top priority. Protect all private and public facilities in Sudan and refrain from using them for military purposes. Adopt simple procedures for all arrangements related to humanitarian relief operations in Sudan. Compliance with the declaration will not affect the legal, security or political position of the signatory parties. The Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces have announced their commitment to carry out humanitarian work and meet the needs of civilians. The declaration included the army and the Rapid Support Forces affirming their commitment to ensure the protection of civilians and to ensure their safe passage from areas of hostilities.
The delegations of the army and the Rapid Support Forces met over the days, under the aegis of the United States and Saudi Arabia, in the city of Jeddah.
Negotiations between the two sides aimed to reach a genuine truce and allow relief and supplies to arrive, after repeated declarations of a ceasefire failed to stop the fighting, which has left millions of people trapped in their homes and areas.
Read the Latest World News Today on The Eastern Herald.
