What conditions are the Sudanese Armed Forces demanding for a ceasefire with the RSF? | DW News

Key Concepts

• Humanitarian Truce: A temporary suspension of hostilities specifically aimed at allowing humanitarian aid and safe passage for civilians.
• Rapid Support Forces (RSF): A paramilitary group in Sudan that has been in conflict with the Sudanese army.
• Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF): The official army of Sudan.
• The Quad: A mediation group comprising Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, and the United States.
• Cessation of Hostilities: A broader term for ending fighting, often a precursor to a more permanent peace.
• Transitional Period: A phase between conflict and a stable civilian government, often involving power-sharing or interim governance.
• Civilian Government: A government led by elected civilians, as opposed to military rule.
• Mass Graves: Sites where a large number of bodies are buried, often indicating mass killings.
• Satellite Imagery: Using images from satellites to gather information, in this context, to detect mass graves.

Humanitarian Truce Proposal and Initial Reactions

The transcript discusses a potential end to Sudan's two-year conflict, with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) agreeing to a proposal for a humanitarian truce put forward by mediators. This development follows the RSF's capture of the major city of Al Faser, their last stronghold in the western Darfur region. The RSF has been accused of severe human rights violations, including mass killings, looting, and sexual violence, leading to millions of displaced people.

Sudanese political analyst Dalia Abdel Moam, speaking from Cairo, expressed cautious optimism. She noted that previous ceasefires have failed to hold and emphasized the need for implementation and adherence to any new truce. She highlighted that the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) had not yet responded but had reportedly presented conditions for supporting the truce. The analyst stressed the critical importance of a ceasefire due to the ongoing suffering and death of civilians, who are caught in the middle of the conflict.

Ongoing Violations and the Role of Mediators

Despite the potential for a truce, reports from Al Faser indicate that violations are continuing. Abdel Moam stated that the cessation of social media uploads by the RSF does not signify their adherence to human rights law or respect for civilians. Evidence of mass graves detected by satellite imagery and accounts from those escaping Al Faser, describing the bodies they encountered, underscore the severity of the situation.

The analyst expressed hope that pressure from mediators, specifically "The Quad" (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, and the United States), would lead to a cessation of hostilities, even if temporary. She described such a step as a "baby step" but crucial for alleviating the horrors faced by Sudanese civilians.

Conditions for a Lasting Truce

When asked about the conditions necessary for a truce to hold, Abdel Moam emphasized the need for the backers of both the RSF and SAF to exert significant pressure. This pressure is required to ensure the truce is respected, humanitarian aid convoys are allowed passage, and civilians are granted safe passage. She argued that the international community must engage with these backers, particularly the UAE, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia, to ensure their supported armies abide by the truce.

Despite her reservations, Abdel Moam acknowledged the positive aspect of reaching this stage of discussion, noting that just two weeks prior, there was no movement towards a cessation of hostilities. She expressed a hope against hope that the truce would materialize.

Addressing Root Causes and Achieving Long-Term Peace

The discussion then shifted to the long-term resolution of the conflict, focusing on addressing its root causes once a truce is in place. Abdel Moam found it "very hard" to envision how an entity like the RSF could be reintegrated into Sudanese society, given their alleged atrocities over the past two to three years, which she described as unprecedented in Sudan.

She acknowledged that the Sudanese army also has a problematic history but differentiated the scale of RSF's actions. The analyst admitted she did not have the expertise to propose solutions for the RSF's integration but believed that the war would eventually end, though its form remained uncertain.

The transcript outlines a potential roadmap following a truce: a ceasefire, followed by a transitional period leading to a civilian government. Abdel Moam referenced the period between 2019 and 2021, when a civilian government existed but was overthrown by a coup, with the armies being legitimized in their role. She expressed hope that lessons would be learned from the past five years, suggesting that the path to a civilian government, while difficult, is achievable.

Conclusion

The summary concludes with the acknowledgment that the path to peace in Sudan is fraught with challenges. While the RSF's agreement to a humanitarian truce is a positive development, its success hinges on the commitment of both warring parties and the sustained pressure from international mediators and the backers of the warring factions. Addressing the deep-seated root causes of the conflict and establishing a stable civilian government remain significant hurdles, with lessons from past transitions needing to be learned to avoid repeating mistakes.