An Open Letter to the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the parties facilitating the Peace talks in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

May 22, 2023

To

The Commander-in-Chief of the Sudanese Armed Forces,

The Commander-in-Chief of the Rapid Support Forces,

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,

The United States Secretary of State.

Re: Proposals to enhance the health, humanitarian and human rights situation in Sudan

Preamble

The security and political situation in Sudan and the slippage that has reached the stage of war, constitutes a historical point that requires the participation of all stakeholders in order to put an end to this war.

This contribution from ACJPS comes in the form of an open letter to the two parties to the conflict, the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces. The letter also addresses the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan, the countries of the Great Lakes Group, Saudi Arabia and the US who are bilateral mediators in the talks in Jeddah.

The proposals

First: While ACJPS welcomes the Declaration of Principles signed between the two parties to the conflict on 11 May 2023 in the city of Jeddah, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, we would like to urge the parties to adopt and implement a serious and clear road map to stop the hostilities. Although Article 7 of the agreement referred to a cease-fire, the parties did not abide by what was stated in it. The declaration has proven to be ineffective in light of the continuation of hostilities on both sides which will prolong the suffering of all civilians, especially considering the urgent need to treat the wounded and to deliver treatment to chronic diseases and those in need of continuous medical attention.  Agreeing on safe humanitarian passages requires practical measures and specific mechanisms to implement this commitment and monitor compliance by both parties.

Second: There are attempts to transfer the conflict to other cities in Sudan such as Kosti in the White Nile state, Al-nohoud in West Kordofan state and El Geneina in West Darfur State. Therefore, any practical measures to stop the fighting and monitor its implementation would have a significant impact in ensuring that the conflict is not transferred outside the affected areas.

Third: The current situation in Sudan requires a clear approach to deal with the security crisis by taking advantage of some civic initiatives that succeeded in stopping the fights in many cities in Sudan. This requires working on an approach that can secure safe areas urgently to constitute a haven for civilians fleeing the fighting in Khartoum.

Fourth: Enhancing the safe areas keeps the continuation of the fighting in Khartoum, as the available information indicates that there are frequent deployments of RSF fighters from Western Sudan as well as fighters from the armed forces from the Central, Eastern and Northern states of Sudan.

Fifth: In addition to the joint effort to sponsor the talks. To involve countries in the Great Lakes Group to send a mission (s) to monitor the ceasefire in the safe areas including the allocation of airports qualified to receive humanitarian aid such as Port Sudan airport in Eastern Sudan, El Fasher airport to serve the states of Western Sudan, Dongola airport for the states of Northern Sudan, El-Obeid airport for the Kordofan states and Wad-Madani airport for the Central Sudan including the states of Sennar, White Nile and Blue Nile.

Sixth: Setting up a medical and health alliances that comprises international and national organizations under the supervision of the International Red Cross to supervise the medical, health situation.

Seventh: Putting the employees and workers of vital/essential sectors such as water supply, electricity and sanitation under the protection of the cease-fire monitoring mission proposed by the Great Lakes countries.

Eighth: Protecting the telecommunication companies and facilities so as to provide services as usual and free lines to report on missing and injured people and others to ensure their safety.

Ninth: Attention must be paid to the prevention of any external military support that increases the pace of the conflict and lead to its internationalization

Tenth: The post-war actions must involve civil society organizations such as medical unions, journalist associations and independent human rights organizations in Sudan so as to be part of the talks between the parties. The unions will assist in their areas of expertise such as medical arrangements and the human rights situation and accountability so as to reach a comprehensive formula to address and end the root causes of the conflict.

 

Yours sincerely

Mossaad Mohamed Ali

Executive Director

African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies (ACJPS)

Mailing Address: 1483 York Avenue, No 20463 New York, NY 10021 USA

Email: mossaad.ali@acjps.org

Mobile: +46727712782 (Sweden)

www.acjps.org

Twitter: @ AfricanCentre

 

The African Center for Justice and Peace Studies is an independent and impartial center that works to advance human rights and peace studies