African Mediators Secure Commitment to Ceasefire and Political Dialogue in Sudan Conflict

African mediators in efforts to end Sudan war – Voice
African mediators in efforts to end Sudan war – Voice

An African regional body involved in mediating the war in Sudan has achieved a breakthrough, securing a commitment from the warring parties to implement a ceasefire and engage in a political dialogue aimed at resolving the conflict. The news comes after intense diplomatic efforts to halt the fighting, which has ravaged the capital city of Khartoum and triggered waves of ethnic killings in Darfur.

The latest talks, held in Djibouti, saw the current chair of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), Sudan’s army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, agreeing to a one-on-one meeting with RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, also known as Hemedti. In addition to agreeing to the ceasefire proposal, both leaders accepted the principle of meeting within 15 days to pave the way for confidence-building measures between the two parties and the launch of a political process.

During the discussions, Burhan accused the RSF of “barbaric attacks” but expressed the army’s willingness to find a peaceful solution. Meanwhile, Hemedti addressed the IGAD meeting remotely, blaming the outbreak of the war on loyalists of former president Omar al-Bashir within the army and advocating for army reform and the formation of a civilian government.

The conflict between the army and the RSF stemmed from an internationally backed plan to merge the paramilitary force into the army and initiate a transition towards elections. Despite previously sharing power following the popular uprising that led to the ousting of Bashir, the army and the RSF jointly staged a coup in 2021, derailing Sudan’s path towards democracy.

Amidst these developments, the United States formally determined that both sides in the conflict had committed war crimes. In response, the RSF denied carrying out ethnic cleansing in Darfur or being responsible for sexual violence, while the army also denied committing war crimes.

Indirect talks between the army and the RSF, brokered by Saudi Arabia and the United States, have faced numerous setbacks and faltered again last week as both sides continued their military campaigns.

The commitment to a ceasefire and political dialogue marks a significant step forward in the efforts to bring an end to the devastating conflict in Sudan. The world watches with bated breath as mediators strive to navigate the complexities of this war-torn region and pave the way for lasting peace and stability.

By Hauwa M.

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