Exclusive, February 04 (Darfur24)
A source familiar with negotiations between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has disclosed details to Darfur24 of a new US-backed proposal for a ceasefire and humanitarian truce in Sudan, which has been circulating between the two sides for about two weeks.
The source, who is close to the Quartet countries, said the proposal calls for the withdrawal of both parties’ forces from major cities. Under the plan, the RSF would withdraw from at least seven key areas, most notably in South Kordofan State, including areas surrounding the cities of Dilling and Kadugli, as well as zones around the city of El Obeid, particularly Jabal Abu Sunun and the Bara area. In return, the proposal stipulates the withdrawal of the Sudanese army from the capital, Khartoum.
According to the source, the US administration has exerted increased pressure on countries influential in the Sudanese conflict in an effort to push both the army and the RSF to accept the new ceasefire proposal.
The source said the Sudanese army has given initial approval to withdraw its forces and allied formations from Khartoum, on the condition that police forces and the General Intelligence Service remain in the capital to assume security responsibilities.
In contrast, the RSF has agreed in principle to withdraw from South Kordofan but has expressed reservations about withdrawing from the Bara area and the surroundings of El Obeid. The source noted that discussions with both sides are ongoing in an effort to reach a comprehensive agreement.
The proposed ceasefire would be monitored by a committee of experts operating under United Nations supervision. The committee’s mandate would also include monitoring and securing routes for the delivery of humanitarian aid, the source said.
The source added that the United Kingdom, which sent a high-level military delegation to Port Sudan last month, has pledged to the Sudanese government to press members of the UN Security Council—currently chaired by Britain—to endorse the humanitarian truce and approve the formation of the UN monitoring committee if the parties agree to the proposal.
According to the source, both sides are studying the proposal with greater seriousness than previous initiatives. The US side, the source said, is seeking to bring the agreement into effect at the start of Ramadan, expected in mid-February.