RIYADH — Foreign Minister Prince Faisal Bin Farhan reaffirmed the keenness of the Saudi leadership to spare the blood of the Sudanese people and ensure security and stability of Sudan and its people. The minister said this in a statement issued on the eve of the announcement of the signing of a temporary ceasefire agreement between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, following their talks in Jeddah. The foreign minister appreciated the cooperation on the part of the warring Sudanese parties participating in the Jeddah talks to reach a ceasefire agreement. "This agreement is a glimmer of hope for the Sudanese people, especially the residents of the capital Khartoum," he said while expressing hope that the agreement would be extended at a later time. Saudi Arabia and the United States announced on Saturday night that the Sudanese parties had reached on a short-term ceasefire and humanitarian agreements. In a joint statement, they stated that the Sudanese people have suffered due to this devastating conflict over the past five weeks. "Saudi Arabia and the United States stand by their side, and demand that the parties fully abide by their obligation to implement the short-term ceasefire agreement, and humanitarian aid to provide much-needed relief." According to the joint Saudi-American statement, the two parties to the conflict in Sudan agreed to a seven-day ceasefire, starting on May 22 evening. The statement noted that the ceasefire can be extended with the consent of the two parties. Saudi Arabia and Sudan had agreed for the delivery and distribution of humanitarian aid supplies, restore basic services, and withdraw forces from hospitals and basic public facilities. The parties also agreed to facilitate the safe passage of humanitarian aid and goods, allowing the unhindered flow of aid from ports of entry to populations who are in need. "In the wake of the difficulty of the conflict, our immediate focus will be on ceasing hostilities so as to alleviate the suffering of the Sudanese people, and the Jeddah talks are aimed at a short-term ceasefire to facilitate humanitarian aid and restore basic services. " The Jeddah talks are not a political process and should not be seen as such," the statement said. Subsequent talks, which will include Sudanese civilians and regional and international partners, would address the necessary steps to achieve a permanent cessation of hostilities and activate the political process to complete democratic change and the formation of a civilian government, the joint statement pointed out.
