Sudan's Dispute Factions Agree To Ceasefire For 72 Hours Amid Foreigner Evacuation Efforts

JAKARTA - The warring factions in Sudan agreed to a 72-hour ceasefire starting Tuesday, as Western, Arab and Asian countries seek to evacuate their citizens from the country.

Sudan's Armed Forces (SAF) said the United States and Saudi Arabia mediated the ceasefire. US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken announced the agreement in advance, saying it followed intensive negotiations for two days.

It is known that fighting erupted between paramilitary groups SAF and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on April 15. So far, at least 427 people have died, paralyzed hospitals and other services, and turned residential areas into war zones. Both sides did not comply with some previous tentative ceasefire agreements.

"During this period, the United States urged SAF and RSF to immediately and fully enforce the ceasefire," Blinken said in a statement.

He said the US would coordinate with regional, international and Sudanese civilian interests to form a committee that would oversee a permanent ceasefire and humanitarian arrangements.

Following intense negotiations, the SAF and RSF have agreed to implement and uphold a 72-hour nationwide ceasefire starting midnight, April 24. We welcome their commitment to work with partners and stakeholders for permanent cessation of hostilities and humanitarian arrangements.

— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) April 24, 2023

Meanwhile, RSF confirmed in Khartoum that it had agreed to a ceasefire, from midnight, to facilitate humanitarian efforts.

"We affirm our commitment to a full ceasefire during the ceasefire period," RSF said.

Meanwhile, SAF said on its Facebook page it also agreed to a ceasefire agreement.

Separately, the Sudanese civil society group coalition that has become part of the transitional negotiations towards democracy welcomes the news.

Ahead of the announcement of the night ceasefire, airstrikes and ground battles rocked Omdurman, one of three nearby cities in the capital, and clashes took place in the capital Khartoum, a Reuters journalist said.

Dark smoke enveloped the sky near the international airport in the center of Khartoum, adjacent to the army headquarters, and an explosion of artillery fire shook the vicinity.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said violence in countries flanking the Red Sea, the Horn of Africa and the Sahel region were "riskful to cause major disasters... that could hit the entire region and its surroundings".

The UN Secretary-General urged 15 members of the Security Council to use their influence to restore Sudan to a democratic transitional path. It is planned that the UN Security Council will reason to hold a meeting in Sudan on Tuesday.

It is known that autocrat Omar al-Bashir was ousted in a popular uprising in 2019, with the army and RSF jointly carrying out a military coup in 2021. But two years later, they clashed during negotiations to integrate and form civilian rule.