U.S. and allies push for Sudan ceasefire amid army offensive
U.S. and allies push for Sudan ceasefire amid army offensive
Push for resumption of negotiations in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
The United States and its Western allies have issued a renewed call for a ceasefire in Sudan, as government forces launched an offensive to recapture al-Jazira State, seized by a rival paramilitary group last December. The plea, articulated following a meeting in Oslo by U.S., U.K., French, and E.U. envoys, comes amidst the protracted conflict in Sudan, now entering its second year with no signs of resolution.
In their joint statement, the Western allies underscored the futility of a military resolution to the conflict. They urged the conflicting parties to ensure unimpeded humanitarian access and uphold human rights standards to mitigate the looming threat of famine in the strife-torn nation. The statement in full said,
"April 15 will mark a year since the eruption of hostilities in Sudan. The conflict lacks a military solution. We urge the belligerents to halt hostilities and commit to an enduring ceasefire without delay. Additionally, we implore them to fulfill their obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law, facilitating comprehensive and unobstructed humanitarian access to avert the escalating risk of famine."
“The international community and the region need to work together in a constructive and coordinated way. As the most developed process, we welcome the proposed restarting of the talks at Jeddah, underscoring the urgency of reaching a ceasefire and restoring humanitarian access. The only way to achieve a sustainable peace is through a representative and inclusive Sudanese process which leads to a restoration of the transition to democracy.”
“The coming humanitarian conference in Paris will be an important opportunity to address the gap in humanitarian funding and lend momentum for a coordinated regional and international response.”
However, the international community's call for a negotiated settlement appears increasingly impracticable. Both factions remain steadfast in their pursuit of military objectives, dashing hopes for an imminent ceasefire and worsening the humanitarian crisis. The latest offensive by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), supported by allied factions of the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SLM/A) under Minni Arko Minnawi and Mustafa Tambur, alongside the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) led by Jibril Ibrahim, has yielded marginal territorial gains.
Although significant territorial shifts have yet to materialize, government troops have recaptured several areas in close proximity to the state capital, Wad Madani. Among these are Medinat Arab, situated 20 kilometers south of Wad Madani, and al-Shabarga, positioned 31 kilometers southeast of the strategic Hantoub Bridge.
“We welcome the proposed restarting of the Jeddah talks.”
This offensive follows closely on the heels of a major victory by government forces in the capital, Khartoum, where they successfully reclaimed state-controlled media installations held by rival factions for nearly ten months. While the SAF has regained control over various sectors in Omdurman, pockets of resistance from Rapid Support Forces (RSF) fighters persist in the southern and western districts of the city.
Another key development recently was an explosion the previously safe city of Atbara, described in this publication as a “false flag attack” intended to influence public opinion and to wreck the chances of resuming the Jeddah talks.