A three-day cease-fire between Sudan’s warring factions went into effect Tuesday after what the United States (US) called “intense negotiation.”
Both the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) publicly pledged to uphold the halt in fighting.
“To support a durable end to the fighting, the United States will coordinate with regional and international partners, and Sudanese civilian stakeholders, to assist in the creation of a committee to oversee the negotiation, conclusion, and implementation of a permanent cessation of hostilities and humanitarian arrangements in Sudan,” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.
Blinken added that the US will work with Sudanese parties “toward the shared goal of a return to civilian government in Sudan.”
At least 427 people have been killed and more than 3,700 wounded, according to UN agencies, since fighting began April 15.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres Monday called on UN Security Council members “to exert maximum leverage with the parties to end the violence, restore order and return to the path of the democratic transition.”
The Security Council is due to hold a meeting about Sudan on Tuesday.
Guterres also said the UN is not leaving Sudan but has temporarily relocated “hundreds” of staff members inside and outside of the country.
Amid the fighting, countries have rushed to evacuate their diplomats and citizens from Sudan.
Canada, Egypt, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden and the United States are among the nations using aircraft and convoys to bring foreign nationals out of Sudan.
A majority of US government personnel who evacuated the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, arrived Monday afternoon in Washington.
Britain’s foreign office said it began an evacuation effort Tuesday with flights leaving from an airfield outside of Khartoum.
China’s foreign ministry said Tuesday most of its nationals had been safely evacuated.
Sudanese nationals are fending for themselves amid power blackouts and loss of internet service.
Some Sudanese have made the decision to escape in cars and buses on the dangerous roads. – gb
