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Int’l, Arab Parties Back Political Agreement in Sudan

Sudanese demonstrators take to the streets to call for justice for those killed since last year's military coup, in the district of Khartoum Bahri, on the northern outskirts of the Sudanese capital, on November 17, 2022. (Photo by AFP)
Sudanese demonstrators take to the streets to call for justice for those killed since last year's military coup, in the district of Khartoum Bahri, on the northern outskirts of the Sudanese capital, on November 17, 2022. (Photo by AFP)
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Int’l, Arab Parties Back Political Agreement in Sudan

Sudanese demonstrators take to the streets to call for justice for those killed since last year's military coup, in the district of Khartoum Bahri, on the northern outskirts of the Sudanese capital, on November 17, 2022. (Photo by AFP)
Sudanese demonstrators take to the streets to call for justice for those killed since last year's military coup, in the district of Khartoum Bahri, on the northern outskirts of the Sudanese capital, on November 17, 2022. (Photo by AFP)

The international tripartite mechanism and several ambassadors of Arab states in Khartoum have met at the residence of Saudi Ambassador to Sudan Ali bin Hassan Jaafar to support the Sudanese efforts to reach a political agreement. 

The Saudi ambassador affirmed the Kingdom’s keenness in advancing efforts that serve Sudan’s stability.

The diplomat discussed with the delegation of the tripartite mechanism - the United Nations, African Union (AU), and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) – and several Arab ambassadors the ongoing efforts to facilitate the political process among various parties.

A press release issued by the Saudi Embassy in Khartoum stressed the key role played by the Arab countries to back the transitional phase in Sudan.

The embassy hosted a couple of months ago meetings between the military and the Forces of Freedom and Change (FFC). The talks were attended by US officials, and they were aimed at promoting dialogue between both sides after months of the military seizure of power on October 25, 2021.

Meanwhile, armed factions under the Democratic Bloc rejected the political settlement between the military and the FFC. 

They demanded that the tripartite mechanism convene with them or else this would undermine its regional and international mandate to resolve the crisis in the country.

Head of the Sudan Liberation Movement (affiliated with the Democratic Bloc) Minni Arko Minnawi said that the Movement was informed that the tripartite mechanism received directives from the military not to deal with the Bloc and to communicate with Sudan Liberation Army and the Justice and Equality Movement only.

Minnawi added during a press conference that the current political agreement is forced on Sudan, and it goes against the will of the military component and the FFC coalition.

He stressed that the political agreement must be free of foreign pressure and dictates, urging the tripartite mechanism not to respond to directives from any bloc.

The Democratic Bloc would address the international parties – the Troika and ambassadors of western and Arab countries – to promote dialogue among Sudanese parties, Minnawi stated.

He continued that the Bloc would also send a delegation to the AU and IGAD to brief them on the latest developments in Sudan .

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Sudan Army Says Recaptures Key State Capital

Sudanese civilians displaced by offensive south of Khartoum earlier this year dream of returning to their homes after the regular army retakes territory - AFP
Sudanese civilians displaced by offensive south of Khartoum earlier this year dream of returning to their homes after the regular army retakes territory - AFP
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Sudan Army Says Recaptures Key State Capital

Sudanese civilians displaced by offensive south of Khartoum earlier this year dream of returning to their homes after the regular army retakes territory - AFP
Sudanese civilians displaced by offensive south of Khartoum earlier this year dream of returning to their homes after the regular army retakes territory - AFP

The Sudanese army said Saturday it had retaken a key state capital south of Khartoum from rival Rapid Support Forces who had held it for the past five months.

The Sennar state capital of Sinja is a strategic prize in the 19-month-old war between the regular army and the RSF as it lies on a key road linking army-controlled areas of eastern and central Sudan.

It posted footage on social media that it said had been filmed inside the main base in the city.

"Sinja has returned to the embrace of the nation," the information minister of the army-backed government, Khaled al-Aiser, said in a statement.

Aiser's office said armed forces chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan had travelled to the city of Sennar, 60 kilometres (40 miles) to the north, on Saturday to "inspect the operation and celebrate the liberation of Sinja", AFP reported.

The RSF had taken the two cities in a lightning offensive in June that saw nearly 726,000 civilians flee, according to UN figures.

Human rights groups have said that those who were unwilling or unable to leave have faced months of arbitrary violence by RSF fighters.

Sinja teacher Abdullah al-Hassan spoke of his "indescribable joy" at seeing the army enter the city after "months of terror".

"At any moment, you were waiting for militia fighters to barge in and beat you or loot you," the 53-year-old told AFP by telephone.

Both sides in the Sudanese conflict have been accused of war crimes, including indiscriminately shelling homes, markets and hospitals.

The RSF has also been accused of summary executions, systematic sexual violence and rampant looting.

The RSF control nearly all of the vast western region of Darfur as well as large swathes of Kordofan in the south. They also hold much of the capital Khartoum and the key farming state of Al-Jazira to its south.

Since April 2023, the war has killed tens of thousands of people and uprooted more than 11 million -- creating what the UN says is the world's largest displacement crisis.

From the eastern state of Gedaref -- where more than 1.1 million displaced people have sought refuge -- Asia Khedr, 46, said she hoped her family's ordeal might soon be at an end.

"We'll finally go home and say goodbye to this life of displacement and suffering," she told AFP.