Saudi Arabia, US Stress Importance of Short-Term Ceasefire Agreement in Sudan 

A Sudanese flag rests on a wheelbarrow as a volunteer (not pictured) collects garbage to clean-up a street in southern Khartoum, on May 23, 2023, after a one-week ceasefire between Sudan's army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces officially went into force. (AFP)
A Sudanese flag rests on a wheelbarrow as a volunteer (not pictured) collects garbage to clean-up a street in southern Khartoum, on May 23, 2023, after a one-week ceasefire between Sudan's army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces officially went into force. (AFP)
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Saudi Arabia, US Stress Importance of Short-Term Ceasefire Agreement in Sudan 

A Sudanese flag rests on a wheelbarrow as a volunteer (not pictured) collects garbage to clean-up a street in southern Khartoum, on May 23, 2023, after a one-week ceasefire between Sudan's army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces officially went into force. (AFP)
A Sudanese flag rests on a wheelbarrow as a volunteer (not pictured) collects garbage to clean-up a street in southern Khartoum, on May 23, 2023, after a one-week ceasefire between Sudan's army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces officially went into force. (AFP)

Saudi Arabia and the United States stressed on Tuesday the importance of the Agreement on a Short-Term Ceasefire and Humanitarian Arrangements in Sudan.

The agreement was signed by the Sudanese army and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Jeddah on May 20.

After five weeks of continued conflict, the Sudanese people badly need the humanitarian assistance and restored essential services that the short-term ceasefire is intended to enable, said the Kingdom and US in a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency.

“The Saudi and US facilitators note with concern that neither side observed its commitment not to seek military advantage during the 48-hour period after the agreement was signed and before it went into effect,” it added.

“While fighting in Khartoum appeared to be less intense than in recent days, the facilitators conveyed to the parties reports indicating that both sides violated the agreement. Those included reported offensive operations in Khartoum and El-Obeid, airstrikes and use of artillery,” it went on to say.

“Today in Jeddah, representatives to the Ceasefire Monitoring and Coordination Committee engaged constructively on humanitarian assistance deliveries and undertook to engage their respective chains of command allegations of ceasefire violations as the Committee seeks to verify the reports. Preparations for humanitarian assistance movements to deliver lifesaving assistance are underway.”

“The Sudanese people continue to suffer as a result of this devastating conflict. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States reiterate their commitment to the Sudanese people and demand that the parties fully abide by their commitments under this agreement for a temporary humanitarian ceasefire to provide urgently needed humanitarian relief,” added the statement.



Saudi Defense Minister Meets with French Ambassador

Prince Khalid bin Salman met on Monday with French Ambassador to the Kingdom Ludovic Pouille. Photo: Saudi Ministry of Defense
Prince Khalid bin Salman met on Monday with French Ambassador to the Kingdom Ludovic Pouille. Photo: Saudi Ministry of Defense
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Saudi Defense Minister Meets with French Ambassador

Prince Khalid bin Salman met on Monday with French Ambassador to the Kingdom Ludovic Pouille. Photo: Saudi Ministry of Defense
Prince Khalid bin Salman met on Monday with French Ambassador to the Kingdom Ludovic Pouille. Photo: Saudi Ministry of Defense

Saudi Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz met on Monday with French Ambassador to the Kingdom Ludovic Pouille.

During the meeting in Riyadh, they reviewed relations between the two friendly countries and several issues of mutual interest.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Minister of Defense Prince Abdulrahman bin Mohammed bin Ayyaf, Chief of the General Staff Lieutenant General Fayyad bin Hamed Al-Ruwaili, Assistant Minister of Defense for Executive Affairs Khaled bin Hussein Al-Biyari, and Office of the Minister of Defense Director General Hisham bin Abdulaziz bin Saif.