Burhan Tasks 'Relevant Authorities' to Respond to the Paper from the U.S. President's Advisor

SadaNews - The Sudanese Security and Defense Council, chaired by the head of the Sudanese Sovereignty Council, Abdel Fattah Burhan, announced that it has tasked the relevant authorities to respond to the paper submitted by U.S. President's Advisor for Arab and African Affairs, Moussa Boulos.

The council affirmed the Sudanese government's commitment to facilitating the entry of aid, opening roads, protecting humanitarian workers, and ensuring that assistance reaches those in need.

Sudanese Minister of Culture and Information Khalid Al-Aasir described the announcement by Rapid Support Forces leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo "Hemedti" regarding a humanitarian ceasefire for three months as a political maneuver that contradicts the reality on the ground.

He added that Hemedti’s statements cannot be taken seriously as his forces have besieged civilians, starved them, and shelled them, particularly in Al-Fasher and Bara.

For its part, the Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed its intention to achieve a comprehensive and just peace and stated that it is open to all serious initiatives aimed at ending the war.

The senior U.S. advisor to the president for Arab and African affairs, Moussa Boulos, stated that Washington had presented a strong plan to end the conflict in Sudan, but it was not accepted by the army or the Rapid Support Forces.

He added during a press conference in Abu Dhabi that the Sudanese army welcomed the proposal weeks ago but did not officially accept the text, returning with preconditions.

Meanwhile, the spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, Stéphane Dujarric, stated that the Rapid Support Forces' announcement of a humanitarian ceasefire for three months is a step in the right direction.

He explained that the proof of this announcement will be ensuring the protection of civilians, allowing wide-ranging access to assistance, and enabling the United Nations to operate independently.

War Crimes

Amid ongoing humanitarian suffering due to the battles, a report by Amnesty International conveyed testimonies from 28 survivors confirming that the Rapid Support Forces committed acts of murder, kidnapping, and rape in Al-Fasher. The international organization described what was mentioned in these testimonies as war crimes, calling for accountability for the perpetrators.

For her part, the EU Commissioner for International Cooperation Hajja Lahbib stated that the humanitarian crisis in the country has reached catastrophic levels, with increasing hunger and serious violations of international law.

During a European Parliament session regarding the war in Sudan, she expressed the EU's grave concern about the ethnic attacks carried out by the Rapid Support Forces in Darfur and Kordofan.

Foiling an Attack

On the ground developments, sources in the Sudanese army announced the thwarting of a Rapid Support Forces attack on the city of Babanusa in West Kordofan. A source confirmed that the army destroyed an ammunition depot in the city and neutralized artillery aimed at the vicinity of the 22nd Division there.

Source: Al Jazeera