Sudan’s warring factions have agreed to a new seven-day ceasefire.
The Sudanese army and rival paramilitary Rapid Support Forces signed the deal in the Saudi city of Jeddah as fighting entered its sixth week.
The ceasefire, brokered by the United States and Saudi Arabia, will begin at 9:45 p.m. in Sudan on Monday (8:45 p.m. UK time).
A joint statement by the United States and Saudi Arabia said: “Both sides conveyed to the Saudi and American facilitators their commitment not to seek military advantage during the 48-hour notification period following the signing of the agreement. agreement and before the start of the ceasefire.”
The agreement also covers humanitarian aid, the restoration of essential services and the withdrawal of troops from vital public installations.
The talks in Jeddah have already resulted in agreements on the protection of civilians and the delivery of humanitarian aid to those in need, but the ceasefires have not been respected.
The new agreement will be supported by “a ceasefire monitoring mechanism supported by the United States, Saudi Arabia and the international community”, composed of three representatives of the United States and Saudi Arabia, and three more from each side.
Hundreds dead and thousands injured
Since the conflict began last month, at least 705 people have been killed and more than 5,200 injured, according to the World Health Organization.
More than a million people have fled their homes and many foreign countries, including the UK, have had to evacuate thousands of their own citizens.
Food, cash and other basic necessities are in short supply, and looting has hit banks, embassies, aid storage facilities and churches.
Air strikes reported
On Saturday, airstrikes were reported in southern Omdurman and northern Bahri.
Sanaa Hassan, a 33-year-old woman living in Omdurman, said: “We faced heavy artillery fire early this morning.
“The whole house was shaking.
“It was terrifying, everyone was lying under their beds.
“What is happening is a nightmare,” she added.
