Sudan Army ‘surprised’ as peace talks in tatters

Khartoum, June 2 (EFE).- Sudan’s army Friday said the suspension of peace talks with the powerful paramilitary group had come as a surprise.

The remarks came after the military on Wednesday said it had suspended its participation in the Saudi- and the US-brokered talks with the warring paramilitary forces.

In a statement on Friday, the military said it had proposed to the mediators to ensure the preconditions for an ongoing humanitarian ceasefire were fulfilled to pave the way for further negotiations.

But the mediating parties of Saudi Arabia and the United States ignored the Sudan military’s proposal.

The mediators’ statement to suspend the talks was unexpected, said the military.

“They did not respond to our proposal, which they ignored and did not acknowledge in their statement.”

The US and Saudi Arabia said Thursday they paused the talks between Sudan’s warring Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces.

The mediators said the parties did not respect the truce’s preconditions.

The May 29 truce set to last five days did little to diminish the violence, which effectively collapsed Wednesday with the military’s withdrawal from the negotiations in the Saudi city of Jeddah.

The military hoped the mediators would “continue their efforts to persuade” the paramilitaries to comply with the truce and resume negotiations.

However, the mediators have said the pause was temporary.

“Saudi Arabia and the United States stand ready to reconvene the Jeddah talks once the parties have taken the necessary steps,” the mediators said.

The conflict has claimed at least 850 lives and injured more than 5,500 since the fighting began on April 15.

More than 1.3 million Sudanese citizens have been displaced, as per the United Nations. EFE

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