A joint statement from Saudi Arabia, the United States, and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) on Tuesday mentioned that "the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces, a paramilitary group, will commit to facilitating humanitarian aid and implementing confidence-building measures." The statement, reported by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), follows a new round of talks between the warring parties that resumed last month in the Saudi city of Jeddah.
The statement conveyed that the mediators expressed regret "that the two parties were unable to agree on ceasefire agreements during this round, as there is no acceptable military solution to this conflict," urging both the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces to prioritize the interests of the Sudanese people, lay down their arms, and engage in negotiations to end the conflict.
Additionally, it stated that "the two parties agreed to engage in a joint humanitarian mechanism led by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs to address obstacles to the delivery of relief aid... and to establish a communication mechanism between the leaders of the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, taking action against parties provoking escalation and fueling the conflict."
The statement also noted that "both sides confirmed their commitment to detaining escapees from prisons." Members of the regime of former President Omar al-Bashir acknowledged shortly after the war began that they participated in an operation to smuggle a large number of prisoners.
