A day before the ceasefire ends… Sudan’s army and Rapid Support Forces announce their stance on extending it, criticizing Riyadh and Washington for violating it | news

Sudan’s military and Rapid Support Forces announced their readiness to discuss the possibility of agreeing to extend the current ceasefire agreement, which expires tomorrow Monday night. On the other hand, a Saudi-US report accused both sides of the conflict of violations. Cease-fire and delivery of humanitarian aid and restoration of basic services are hampered.

It comes as the two sides exchanged aerial and artillery fire in the Halfaya suburb north of Khartoum, while the Sudanese Doctors Syndicate confirmed that the civilian death toll had risen to 866 since clashes began in mid-April. .

Witnesses reported hearing rumbles of clashes in the capital Khartoum last night and Sunday, while human rights monitors reported heavy fighting in El Fasher, one of the main towns in West Darfur region.

Sudan’s military said in a statement that it was committed to the short-term ceasefire agreement signed in Jeddah and its humanitarian provisions, stressing that it was exploring the possibility of agreeing to extend the current deal, which expires on Monday evening. .

The army has insisted that it will continue to abide by the ceasefire agreement till this day.

On the other hand, the Rapid Support Forces declared their readiness to continue negotiations to discuss the possibility of renewing the ceasefire agreement and reaching humanitarian arrangements.

It added in a statement that it continues to monitor the ceasefire to test the seriousness and commitment of the other side to continue renewing the agreement.

Khartoum Airport

Al-Jazeera, on the other hand, was able to enter Khartoum airport, which has been a battleground since the first day of fighting between the army and Rapid Support Forces in mid-April.

The exclusive photographs completely stopped the work of the airport, its amenities and facilities and the absence of its staff and workers. It also showed a burning aircraft, damage to equipment and facilities and some bombs inside the airport.

The “Al-Jazeera” team was on a tour of some of the facilities when they heard gunfire near the airport. Our reporter also observed that the food stalls attached to the airport and places where passengers keep their travel packages are in a chaotic state.

Saudi American report

Politically, a Saudi-US mediator overseeing talks between the military and Rapid Support Forces in the Saudi city of Jeddah said the two sides did not adhere to last week’s brief skirmish.

Both sides said in a joint statement that the military violated the ceasefire and used warplanes on a daily basis, and in response, Rapid Support Forces occupied civilian facilities and deployed military reinforcements at Halfaya Bridge in preparation for an attack on Wadi Sayedna military bases.

The mediation called on the parties to extend the compromise to provide humanitarian assistance to civilians trapped inside Khartoum.

Earlier on Sunday, Saudi Arabia and the United States called on the Sudanese Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces to continue discussions, reaching an agreement on extending the ceasefire, which was due to end on Monday.

The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on its official Twitter account that the extension will help the Sudanese people to provide much-needed humanitarian aid, although the agreement is not complete.

In the absence of an agreement to extend the current ceasefire, it is the duty of both sides to uphold their obligations under the short-term ceasefire and declare their commitment to protecting civilians in Sudan, the statement said.

Meanwhile, the US State Department, in a statement, renewed its support for the United Nations and the work of the Secretary-General’s Special Representative, Volker Peretz. It expressed its concern over a letter from the Sudan Armed Forces asking him to resign.

The U.S. State Department said it is confident of carrying out the duties of an international diplomat.

Despite the ceasefire, the United Nations and relief agencies are struggling to get approvals and security guarantees to send aid and relief teams to Khartoum and other places in need. Warehouses were looted.