Sudanese army representatives have returned to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia for talks with Rapid Support Forces (RSF) as the war entered its fourth month.
The RSF has made no comment on returning to the talks in Jeddah, which Saudi and US mediators adjourned last month after a series of repeatedly violated ceasefires.
However, a government source told AFP anonymously that a delegation of the armed forces has returned to Jeddah to resume negotiations with the RSF.
Reuters also quoted sources as saying that “Sudanese representatives have arrived in Saudi Arabia's Jeddah to resume talks."
- Yasser al-Atta
Meanwhile, Sovereign Council Member Lieutenant General Yasser al-Ata said that the military operations are proceeding and the war will end soon.
Ata told Asharq Al-Awsat that the army would continue to make achievements in the war against the Rapid Support Forces and that the army's morale is very high because of the people's support.
Addressing the incident in the Bahri region, Ata admitted the army sustained some losses, but the RSF lost more, and its elements continued to flee to the west of the country.
He described the RSF as rebels who committed major crimes against the people, indicating that the army was doing its duty to protect the country and its citizens.
- Back to negotiations
The army's return to the Jeddah negotiations reflects its participation in the diplomatic efforts aimed at a ceasefire after it boycotted talks last week in Ethiopia hosted by the East African regional bloc IGAD.
However, the Sudanese Foreign Ministry objected to Kenyan President William Ruto's leadership of the IGAD quartet, accusing Nairobi of siding with the RSF.
Before suspending the Jeddah talks, US mediators expressed their disappointment over the reluctance of both parties towards a real armistice.
Experts believe army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo chose to wage a war of attrition, and each hoped to obtain more significant concessions at the negotiating table.
- Engineers' Corps
Eyewitnesses reported that the RSF bombed drones that targeted Khartoum's most significant military hospital, killing and injuring eight civilians, in conjunction with its major attack on the Engineers' Corps nearby.
According to witnesses, the marches took off from the al-Muqrin in the center of Khartoum. The Rapid Support Forces control the "strategy" camp in that area.
Local sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that large numbers of army and rapid support forces have gathered in separate areas of Omdurman.
Al-Tarifi Abdel-Azim, a resident of Omdurman, reported hearing bombing and clashes since the early morning.
The Rapid Support Forces launched many attacks on the medical and engineers' corps near the Old White Nile Bridge entrance linking Omdurman with Khartoum.
- Kenyan President
Meanwhile, a delegation of Sudanese political and civil leaders met the Kenyan President as part of a tour to neighboring countries aimed at ending the war.
In a statement on Saturday, the delegation said that Ruto asserted Kenya's commitment to continuing regional efforts to stop the war in Sudan and reach a political solution to the crisis.
Ruto added that his country and IGAD continue to focus on issues of war, peace, and democratic transition in Sudan.
The Sudanese delegation, which includes top leaders in the Freedom and Change coalition, stressed the importance of coordinating international and regional efforts, unifying the negotiating platform, and accelerating a real ceasefire.
The IGAD initiative called on the warring parties to immediately sign an unconditional ceasefire agreement.
In the coming days, the Sudanese delegation will continue its visits to Saudi Arabia, South Sudan, and Chad to mobilize support to end the war and launch a political process for the return of civil rule.
- Ongoing clashes
Clashes continued over the past three months, leading 1.7 million civilians to escape Khartoum.
More than 2.4 million people have been displaced to other parts of Sudan, where roadblocks, the breakdown of the banking system, and fragile health services mean responders are ill-equipped to meet soaring demand.
Humanitarian relief organizations have repeatedly called for safe corridors to transport aid and workers and have previously warned that the rainy season, which began in June, could cause the spread of diseases.
During a meeting last Thursday, aid and health workers announced measles cases had emerged in 11 of Sudan's 18 states and 300 people were infected with cholera, eight of whom have died, according to a statement issued by the Islamic Relief.
The World Health Organization said it was difficult to confirm reports of an outbreak of cholera given that public health laboratories are out of order.
The UN estimates that 740,000 refugees have escaped to neighboring countries.
