Sudan's army and paramilitary RSF sign seven-day ceasefire

US and Saudi Arabia issue statement after talks in Jeddah

Smoke rises above buildings after aerial bombardment during clashes between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and the army in Khartoum. Reuters

Warring sides in Sudan have reached an agreement for a seven-day humanitarian ceasefire, the US and Saudi Arabia said on Saturday in a statement after talks in Jeddah.

Representatives from both army chief Gen Abdel Fattah Al Burhan and his former deputy-turned-rival Gen Mohamed Dagalo vowed not to seek any military advantage before the truce goes into effect at 9.45pm Khartoum time on May 22, the statement released by the US State Department said.

The ceasefire “shall remain in effect for seven days and may be extended with the agreement of both parties”, it said.

Numerous previous ceasefire agreements were violated. However, this agreement will be enforced by a US-Saudi and international-supported monitoring mechanism, the statement said, without providing details.

The agreement also calls for distributing humanitarian assistance, restoring essential services and withdrawing forces from hospitals and essential public facilities.

The fighting between Sudan's army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces has led to a collapse of order. Stocks of food, cash and essentials are rapidly dwindling, and mass looting has hit banks, embassies, aid warehouses and even churches.

Aid groups have said they are unable to provide sufficient assistance in the capital Khartoum without safe passage and security guarantees for staff.

Air strikes and artillery exchanges shook the Sudanese capital on Saturday and armed men ransacked the Qatari embassy.

Eyewitnesses in Khartoum said that the situation was relatively calm, although sporadic gunshots could be heard.

The conflict, which began on April 15, has displaced almost 1.1 million people internally and into neighbouring countries. The official death toll is 705 with at least 5,287 injured, according to the World Health Organisation.