New truce announced in Sudan as clashes continue

GOOBJOOG NEWS | SUDAN: The two warring sides in the Sudan conflict have agreed to a seven-day ceasefire according to South Sudanese officials.

The announcement comes even as air raids and gunfights continue in the capital Khartoum – disrupting a previous short term truce.

On Tuesday, South Sudan Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement saying President Salva Kirr who has been pushing for end of hostilities in Sudan alongside other IGAD states leaders stressed the importance of a longer ceasefire to allow room for peace talks to commence.

President Kirr said in the statement that the two sides, the Sudan Armed Forces led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the paramilitary Rapid Support forces (RSF) led by General Mohamed Hamdan “Hemedti” Dagalo, had agreed to the proposal to extend the ceasefire.

However, the announcement remains unclear as reports of clashes emerged from Khartoum over the past 72 hours.

“Previously, we have had a three-day ceasefire followed by another three-day ceasefire, which was followed by an extension of the three-day ceasefire. This one is supposed to last for seven days. Both sides have agreed that they will have a ceasefire and that they will not fire unless they are fired at or unless there are military movements. All ceasefires have been conditional,” an official told local media in Khartoum.

The army and the RSF has however stated that there are conditions set for the talks when they happen setting ground for difficult peace negotiations as fears of even severe implications on civilians trapped in the conflict continue to rise.

Sudan’s war has forced 100,000 people to flee over its borders and fighting, now its third week, is creating a humanitarian crisis, UN officials said earlier on Tuesday.