Second Round of Jeddah Talks on Sudan to Be Held on Sunday

Bags of charcoal are sold on the side of a street in Khartoum to be used as fighting between rival Sudanese generals continues, on May 13, 2023. (AFP)
Bags of charcoal are sold on the side of a street in Khartoum to be used as fighting between rival Sudanese generals continues, on May 13, 2023. (AFP)
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Second Round of Jeddah Talks on Sudan to Be Held on Sunday

Bags of charcoal are sold on the side of a street in Khartoum to be used as fighting between rival Sudanese generals continues, on May 13, 2023. (AFP)
Bags of charcoal are sold on the side of a street in Khartoum to be used as fighting between rival Sudanese generals continues, on May 13, 2023. (AFP)

Representatives of the warring parties in Sudan are scheduled to hold a second round of talks in the Saudi coastal city of Jeddah on Sunday.

They will discuss how to implement plans to deliver humanitarian aid and remove troops from civilian areas, a senior Saudi diplomat said according to Reuters.

The parties will remain in Jeddah to start the next phase of the negotiations after agreeing on Thursday to the plan to protect civilians, the diplomat said on Saturday.

Khartoum residents described fierce battles on Saturday with fighters roving the streets and little sign the army and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) were respecting the Jeddah declaration.

Fighting has rocked Khartoum and adjoining areas as well as Geneina in the Darfur region since the warring forces agreed a "declaration of principles" on Thursday.

The conflict that broke out a month ago has killed hundreds of people, sent more than 200,000 into neighboring states, displaced another 700,000 inside the country, and risks drawing in outside powers and destabilizing the region.

Airspace will stay closed except for aid flights until May 31, authorities said on Saturday.

The two sides have battled through previous truces and have shown no sign of being willing to compromise. Although the RSF promised to uphold Thursday's agreement, the army has not yet commented on it.

Neither side seems able to secure a quick victory, with the army able to call on air power but the RSF dug into residential districts throughout the capital.



Saudi Arabia, Pakistan Discuss Development of Military Ties

The Saudi Crown Prince receiving the Pakistani army commander in Riyadh (SPA)
The Saudi Crown Prince receiving the Pakistani army commander in Riyadh (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia, Pakistan Discuss Development of Military Ties

The Saudi Crown Prince receiving the Pakistani army commander in Riyadh (SPA)
The Saudi Crown Prince receiving the Pakistani army commander in Riyadh (SPA)

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, met on Wednesday with Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff, General Asim Munir, to discuss bilateral relations and explore opportunities for further development, particularly in the military sector. The meeting, held in the Crown Prince’s office in Riyadh, covered a range of shared interests.
Attending the reception on the Saudi side were Prince Khalid bin Salman, Minister of Defense; Dr. Musaed Al-Aiban, Minister of State, Member of the Cabinet, and National Security Advisor; Khalid Al-Humaidan, Head of General Intelligence; Mohammed Al-Tuwaijri, Advisor to the Royal Court; General Fayyadh Al-Ruwaili, Chief of the General Staff; and Nawaf Al-Maliki, Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan.
Representing Pakistan were Ahmad Farooq, Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, and Brigadier Mohammad Asim, Military Attaché at the embassy in Riyadh.
In a separate meeting, Prince Khalid bin Salman, Saudi Defense Minister, also met with General Asim Munir to discuss the historic ties between the two countries, focusing on strategic cooperation in military and defense areas and exploring ways to strengthen and expand bilateral ties. They also discussed various issues of mutual concern.