Dujarric: UN welcomes agreement between conflict parties in Sudan

The Secretary-General of the United Nations welcomed the initiative of the conflicting parties in Sudan to sign the Jeddah Declaration in order to protect the security of the Sudanese people. António Guterres welcomed the signing by the parties to the conflict in Sudan of the Declaration of Commitment to Protect Civilians, spokesman Stéphane Dujarric said. The document was signed in the Saudi city of Jeddah, where almost a week of negotiations took place between the Sudanese military and the Rapid Reaction Forces fighting for power in the country.

The parties pledged to avoid attacks that could harm the civilian population of the country, and to help the civilian population to freely leave the areas of hostilities and besieged territories. Despite the agreements, the parties continue clashes. So, the rapid reaction forces said that army units attacked their base in Khartoum.

The Sudanese army says it continues to control the presidential palace and other strategic sites. Meanwhile, according to the UN, about 200,000 people have left Sudan since the beginning of the conflict. In recent days alone, 30,000 people have arrived in neighboring Chad, bringing the number of Sudanese refugees in the country to 60,000.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres said earlier that another 800,000 people could leave Sudan in the coming weeks. After about a week of talks in Saudi Arabia, the Sudanese army and rapid reaction forces on Thursday signed a statement to protect the safety of Sudanese citizens. Despite seven ceasefires in Sudan and statements by the parties that it has been observed, sporadic clashes in that country continue.