Sudan’s military accepts UN proposal of a weeklong ceasefire
CAIRO — Sudan’s military has accepted a United Nations proposal for a weeklong ceasefire in El Fasher to facilitate U.N. aid efforts in the area, the army announced on Friday.
U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres personally requested Sudanese military leader Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan for the humanitarian truce in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur province, to enable aid delivery.
While Burhan agreed to the proposal and emphasized the importance of implementing relevant U.N. Security Council resolutions, it remains uncertain whether the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces would also agree to and comply with the ceasefire.
Guterres stated to reporters on Friday, “We are in contact with both parties with the aim of achieving that goal, and that was the main purpose of the phone call. The situation in El Fasher is dire.”
No detailed information has been disclosed regarding the specifics of the ceasefire, including its potential commencement date.
Sudan descended into conflict in April 2023 when tensions between the Sudanese army and the rival RSF erupted into clashes in Khartoum and spread throughout the country, resulting in the deaths of over 20,000 individuals.
The war has displaced more than 14 million people and caused famine in parts of the country. UNICEF reported earlier this year that approximately 61,800 children have been internally displaced since the conflict began.
Guterres emphasized on Friday the necessity of a humanitarian ceasefire for effective aid distribution, stressing that it should be agreed upon several days in advance to prepare for extensive aid delivery in the El Fasher region, which has recently experienced repeated episodes of violence.
El-Fasher, located over 800 kilometers (500 miles) southwest of Khartoum, is currently under military control. The RSF has been attempting to capture El Fasher for a year to consolidate its authority over the entire Darfur region. The paramilitary group’s efforts have involved launching numerous attacks on the city and two major famine-stricken displacement camps on its outskirts.
