عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Arab World

US-Sudanese Jeddah Consultations Falter Amid Several Differences

Representatives of the two parties to the Sudanese conflict during the signing of the Jeddah declaration in May 2023. (Reuters)
Representatives of the two parties to the Sudanese conflict during the signing of the Jeddah declaration in May 2023. (Reuters)
TT
20
TT

US-Sudanese Jeddah Consultations Falter Amid Several Differences

Representatives of the two parties to the Sudanese conflict during the signing of the Jeddah declaration in May 2023. (Reuters)
Representatives of the two parties to the Sudanese conflict during the signing of the Jeddah declaration in May 2023. (Reuters)

Talks in Jeddah between representatives of Sudan’s army-backed government and US officials have ended without agreement on the army’s participation in ceasefire negotiations with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Geneva later this week.

On Thursday, the Port Sudan government dispatched a delegation to Riyadh, where it held consultations over two days with US Special Envoy for Sudan Tom Perriello.

In a statement on Facebook, Minister of Minerals Mohammed Abu Nimo said: “In my capacity as head of the government delegation in the consultative meetings with the Americans in the city of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, I announce the end of the consultations without agreement on the participation of the Sudanese delegation in the Geneva negotiations...”

Informed sources said that the government’s representatives emphasized the need to exclude the Intergovernmental Authority for Development (IGAD) and the United Arab Emirates from the process.

Other points of contention, according to the same sources, included the Sudanese delegation’s refusal that participation in the negotiations be in the name of the government and not the army. It also demanded that the process be launched by implementing the “Jeddah Humanitarian Declaration” before engaging into any other talks.

“The matter of Sudan's participation is now left to the leadership [army chief Gen Abdel Fattah Al Burhan] and its assessment,” Abu Nimo said in his statement.

“There certainly are many details that prompted us to decide to end the consultations without an agreement,” he added without elaborating.

In late July, the United States invited the warring parties – the army and RSF - to hold talks in Geneva to reach a ceasefire under Saudi-Swiss auspices, and in the presence of observers from the African Union, IGAD, the UAE, and Egypt.

Most Viewed

 
Arab World

Clashes Erupt between Local Factions, Armed Tribal Groups in Syria’s Suwayda

Scenes of normal life in the town of Ashrafiyat Sahnaya (SANA)
Scenes of normal life in the town of Ashrafiyat Sahnaya (SANA)
TT
20
TT

Clashes Erupt between Local Factions, Armed Tribal Groups in Syria’s Suwayda

Scenes of normal life in the town of Ashrafiyat Sahnaya (SANA)
Scenes of normal life in the town of Ashrafiyat Sahnaya (SANA)

Intense clashes erupted in southern Syria between local factions in Suwayda province and armed tribal groups from the surrounding countryside, stoking fears of renewed sectarian violence between communities in Suwayda and neighboring Daraa.

The fighting broke out in the western countryside of Suwayda, just a day after Druze religious leaders and community elders announced the start of an agreement intended to bring stability to the area. Conflicting reports have emerged about the reasons behind the escalation.

Local Telegram channels reported what they called a “military escalation” as armed Bedouin groups, described as “outlaws,” were accused of attempting to break a siege around Bedouin-inhabited villages in the western countryside. Mortar exchanges and machine gun fire were reported between the two sides.

In particular, the village of Al-Dara, home to Bedouin tribes, was reportedly shelled from the nearby town of Al-Thaala. In response, tribal fighters launched a counteroffensive, leading to clashes that involved the use of heavy weaponry.

The independent news outlet Suwayda 24 reported that Al-Thaala itself came under attack from unknown groups firing mortars and machine guns from the western outskirts of the town. The incident triggered a gun battle between local defenders and the attackers.

Rumors further fueled tensions, with some claiming that local factions attempted to destroy a mosque and targeted civilian neighborhoods. Meanwhile, Al-Rasid, another outlet covering Suwayda, noted a sharp increase in provocative videos and audio messages alleging that Suwayda factions were besieging tribal areas and setting fire to mosques.

Officials have denied these claims. Religious leaders reaffirmed that mosques remained protected by local factions. Despite this, armed groups from eastern Daraa, reportedly not locals, began shelling Suwayda villages.

Sources in Daraa told Suwayda 24 that these groups, arriving on motorcycles and in vehicles equipped with mortars and heavy weapons, have been trying to provoke unrest for days. Videos and messages circulated on WhatsApp were allegedly aimed at inciting local communities.

The clashes have already had humanitarian consequences. Mortar attacks on villages including Haran, Al-Thaala, Rasas, and Ara resulted in the death of one civilian and injuries to eight others. Dozens of families, particularly women and children, have fled to safer areas.

Local sources say the violence is a deliberate attempt to sow discord between the Druze and tribal communities. They urged residents of both Suwayda and Daraa to resist incitement and work together to de-escalate the situation.

Meanwhile, Syria’s Interior Ministry announced the release of 22 detainees from the towns of Sahnaya and Ashrafiyat Sahnaya in Damascus Countryside, stating they were not involved in bloodshed during recent unrest.

Separately, the Israeli military announced it had raided and destroyed a former Syrian regime command post on Mount Hermon. Israeli forces reportedly uncovered weapons caches and military infrastructure during the operation and seized the materials.