KHARTOUM- Sudan's army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) did not agree to a ceasefire despite committing to protect civilians and facilitate the movement of humanitarian aid, according to US officials.The commitment was made after a week of talks in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
A senior State Department official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that the two sides remain far apart.
The factions signed a declaration agreeing to work towards a short-term ceasefire during further discussions.
The parties will focus on reaching a deal for an effective ceasefire of up to about 10 days to facilitate the delivery of emergency humanitarian assistance and restoration of essential services.
On Friday, Sudan's army and rival paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) committed to protecting civilians and the movement of humanitarian aid, but did not agree to a ceasefire after a week of talks in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Negotiators with Saudi and U.S. mediators will next discuss specific security measures for safeguarding relief supplies, including a ceasefire monitoring mechanism.
The two sides remain far apart, but the declaration signed on Friday commits to prioritizing discussions to achieve a short-term ceasefire to facilitate the delivery of emergency humanitarian assistance and restoration of essential services.
The parties will focus on reaching a deal for an effective ceasefire of up to about 10 days. The U.S. hopes the two sides' willingness to sign Friday's declaration will build momentum toward a permanent cessation of hostilities, but a U.S. official said it would be a long process.
The talks in Jeddah between Sudan's army and rival paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) resulted in a commitment to protect civilians and humanitarian aid, but did not lead to a ceasefire agreement, according to senior U.S. State Department officials.
Negotiators will continue discussions regarding specific security measures for safeguarding relief supplies, with a focus on achieving a short-term ceasefire of up to 10 days. The U.S. and Saudi Arabia will support a ceasefire monitoring mechanism.
The army and RSF have agreed to schedule further talks to achieve a permanent cessation of hostilities. The civilian groups are expected to participate in later discussions.
Clashes continue in Halfaya, an entry point to the capital Khartoum, with both sides refusing to offer concessions to end the conflict. Previous ceasefire agreements have been repeatedly violated, leading to a humanitarian crisis.
According to a senior State Department official, the declaration signed by the warring factions in Sudan seeks to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid and begin restoring essential services such as water and electricity.
The official added that mediators hope to arrange for the withdrawal of security forces from hospitals and clinics, as well as the respectful burial of the dead.
According to the World Health Organization, over 600 people have died and more than 5,000 have been injured in the fighting in Sudan.
The Health Ministry has reported that at least 450 people were killed in the western Darfur region. The conflict has resulted in the displacement of over 700,000 people inside Sudan and the flight of 150,000 refugees into neighbouring states, according to U.N. figures.
Both sides have been condemned for human rights abuses by Western countries at a human rights meeting in Geneva, but Sudan's envoy there argued that the conflict was an "internal affair."