RIYADH: The situation in crisis-hit Sudan has improved since Wednesday, when there had been serious breaches of the truce, the Saudi ministry for foreign affairs said in a joint statement with the United States released through Twitter on Friday.
The statement reads, “In their capacity as facilitators, Riyadh and Washington noted improved respect for the deal on a Short-Term truce and Humanitarian measures in Sudan on May 25,”.
Riyadh and Washington Note improved Respect for Sudan Truce
The two parties agreed to the truce inked on May 20, 2023, after talks in Saudi Arabia’s port city Jeddah. However, some incidents of violence were reported in the country after the truce. On Wednesday the Saudi Ministry for foreign affairs said Riyadh and Washington were concerned that neither party had observed its promise “not to pursue military benefit during the 48-hour period after the truce was signed.”
Today’s statement went on to describe that “Though there was observed use of army aircraft and isolated gunfire in Sudan’s capital city Khartoum, the situation improved from Wednesday when the truce monitoring system detected breaches of the ceasefire.”
The statement said that the breaches comprised the “use of military aircraft, drones, artillery, airstrikes, fighting in Khartoum, clashes in Darfur, and Zalingei.
The statement further said that after the serious violations of ceasefire the US and Saudi Arabia representatives told the parties in Sudan that the lives of civilians were being put at risk by the breaches.
Saudi Arabia and the US said they had cautioned both parties against committing more violations and to respect the truce. The statement added that on May 25, “humanitarian actors also delivered urgently needed medical supplies to Sudan.”
“The facilitators ask both parties in Sudan to carry forward the encouraging progress of May 25 for the remainder of the short-term truce and uphold their resolve under the May 11 Declaration of Commitment to Protect the Civilians in Sudan.
The statement appealed to both parties to give priority to people of Sudan and also abide by the terms of the ceasefire.
“Riyadh and Washington plead the two sides to observe to their commitments under the truce and take the measures necessary to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian help and restoration of essential services,” the statement said.
