Sudanese Army, Paramilitary RSF to Return to Jeddah Negotiations

Smoke rises over Khartoum, Sudan, on June 8, 2023, as fighting between the Sudanese army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces continues. (AP)
Smoke rises over Khartoum, Sudan, on June 8, 2023, as fighting between the Sudanese army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces continues. (AP)
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Sudanese Army, Paramilitary RSF to Return to Jeddah Negotiations

Smoke rises over Khartoum, Sudan, on June 8, 2023, as fighting between the Sudanese army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces continues. (AP)
Smoke rises over Khartoum, Sudan, on June 8, 2023, as fighting between the Sudanese army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces continues. (AP)

Sudan's army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces will return to the negotiating table in Jeddah on Thursday, senior US State Department officials said, as a six-month war has taken its toll on the country and on both forces.

The Sudanese army said on Wednesday it accepted the invitation as "negotiations are one of the means that may end the conflict," but that it would not stop fighting. The RSF did not immediately have a statement, but on Wednesday published video of its second-in-command leading soldiers in Nyala, a major war zone.

Fighting broke out in mid-April over plans to integrate troops, four years after the two forces ousted President Omar al-Bashir, and 18 months after they led a coup to oust civilian partners.

Since then, fighting has decimated the capital and other major cities, displacing almost 6 million people and killing thousands.

The United States and Saudi Arabia suspended talks in June after numerous ceasefire violations

"Both sides privately indicated that they are ready to resume talks," said one of the US officials, adding that months of fighting and a humanitarian crisis had weighed on both sides.

Eyewitnesses say that the pace of fighting has slowed in the past week, with both sides resorting to long-range artillery that have rained projectiles on residential neighborhoods.

Military sources say the army has struggled to make repairs to aging warplanes while the RSF has struggled to treat wounded soldiers. Both have had difficulty paying their exhausted forces, the sources said.

The African Union and regional body IGAD would be joining the Jeddah talks, which would initially focus on humanitarian issues, ceasefires, and confidence-building measures in order to lay the groundwork for a negotiated solution to the conflict.

Civilian leaders, who have been holding organizing meetings in Addis Ababa this week, would not be participating in the initial rounds but could be brought in later, as one of the officials said that both sides' failure to protect civilians made clear they were no longer fit to rule the country going forward.

The army's second in command, General Shams el-Din Kabbashi, emerged from the capital earlier this week for the first time since fighting started. In a video, he said the army was ready for negotiations, but "we will not let bygones be bygones."

Despite the army's willingness to talk, diplomats and Sudanese sources say Bashir loyalists, who have heavy influence in the military, reject negotiations and would prefer to continue to rebuild influence as fighting continues.



Syrian Prisoners File Puts Lebanon in a Bind, Legal Frameworks Needed for Resolution

Overcrowding in prisons and delays in trials in Lebanon lead to prolonged detention in police stations. (Getty) 
Overcrowding in prisons and delays in trials in Lebanon lead to prolonged detention in police stations. (Getty) 
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Syrian Prisoners File Puts Lebanon in a Bind, Legal Frameworks Needed for Resolution

Overcrowding in prisons and delays in trials in Lebanon lead to prolonged detention in police stations. (Getty) 
Overcrowding in prisons and delays in trials in Lebanon lead to prolonged detention in police stations. (Getty) 

The issue of Syrian prisoners in Lebanese custody has once again come to the forefront, following reports suggesting dissatisfaction from Damascus over Beirut’s delay in repatriating detainees. The leaked information also hinted at potential political and economic repercussions if the matter is not resolved.

According to these reports, the Syrian administration expressed frustration over Lebanon’s alleged foot-dragging on prisoner transfers and even warned of measures such as restricting Lebanese freight movement across Syrian territory and closing border crossings.

The reports triggered a wave of confusion in Lebanon’s political circles. However, Syrian officials were quick to deny the claims, and Lebanese authorities sought to ease tensions through direct communication.

A senior Lebanese official told Asharq Al-Awsat that “swift contacts” between Beirut and Damascus confirmed the Syrian administration’s denial of the allegations.

“The issue of Syrian prisoners remains a priority for Lebanon’s political, judicial, and security institutions and is being addressed through legal channels,” the official said. He emphasized Lebanon’s readiness to cooperate in extraditing Syrian nationals, but only in accordance with established legal and regulatory frameworks.

The controversy stemmed from a report by Syria TV claiming that Syrian President Ahmad Al-Sharaa voiced deep dissatisfaction over the matter during a meeting with Lebanon’s Grand Mufti, Sheikh Abdul Latif Daryan. The report alleged that Al-Sharaa accused Lebanese authorities of neglecting what he described as a humanitarian issue and hinted at punitive measures.

However, sources familiar with the Mufti’s visit to Damascus categorically denied that the prisoner issue was discussed. “At no point during the meeting was the topic of Syrian prisoners raised,” one source told Asharq Al-Awsat, citing the official statement from Dar al-Fatwa, which made no mention of the issue.

There are currently more than 2,000 Syrians held in Lebanese prisons, including roughly 800 facing charges related to terrorism and security offenses. Many of them have repeatedly appealed to Syrian authorities for intervention, seeking to be transferred back home to complete their legal proceedings.

A source from Lebanon’s prison administration, under the Ministry of Justice, revealed that a joint judicial-security committee had reviewed the cases of hundreds of Syrian detainees eligible for repatriation. However, the process has stalled due to legal obstacles.

“No prisoner can be handed over without a final conviction,” the source said. “Extradition is not applicable to those still on trial, particularly if the offense was committed on Lebanese soil and involved Lebanese victims.”

Lebanon and Syria have signed multiple judicial agreements, including one on the extradition of wanted individuals. However, no deal currently exists for the transfer of convicted prisoners. According to legal sources, such an agreement would require coordination between the two countries’ justice ministries and eventual ratification by the Lebanese Parliament.

If signed, the agreement could pave the way for the repatriation of up to 370 convicted Syrian nationals currently serving sentences in Lebanon.

Syrian Justice Minister Mazhar Al-Wais is expected to visit Beirut soon for talks with Lebanese officials. The Lebanese side is optimistic that the visit could yield progress toward a formal agreement on prisoner transfers. “Lebanon has a vested interest in the repatriation of these detainees - but only under lawful and transparent procedures,” the official said. “This is not something that can be handled arbitrarily by simply sending buses to prisons.”

Tensions inside Lebanon’s prison system have escalated in recent months, particularly at Roumieh Central Prison, where “Building B” houses Islamist detainees, including Syrians accused of terrorism-related offenses. The facility has seen repeated unrest, with prisoners demanding a general amnesty and improved conditions.

On February 12, more than 100 Syrian detainees launched a hunger strike that lasted two weeks. The strike ended following a visit by a delegation from the Syrian embassy, which assured detainees that Damascus would prioritize their cases.

A Justice Ministry source confirmed that communication is ongoing between the Lebanese and Syrian justice ministries. “We have expressed full readiness to cooperate on the prisoner file,” the source said. “Once all legal procedures are in place, we’re prepared to begin the process of transferring convicted Syrian nationals to their home country.”