In a major breakthrough, Sudan’s warring generals have agreed to a ceasefire and political dialogue to end the country’s devastating conflict.
The agreement was reached during a meeting of the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), a regional bloc of East African countries, on Sunday.
The two generals, Abdel-Fattah Burhan and Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, have been at odds since April, leading to open fighting in the capital Khartoum and across the country.
The conflict has wreaked havoc on Sudan, killing thousands and displacing millions.
“Both Sudanese generals agreed to an unconditional ceasefire and resolution of the conflict through political dialogue,” said an IGAD statement.
They also agreed to hold a “one-to-one meeting” within 15 days to pave the way for further confidence-building measures and ultimately, political talks.
The United States welcomed the generals’ commitment and called on them to “abide by these commitments and enter talks without delay.”
IGAD, along with Saudi Arabia and the United States, has been mediating the conflict.
The war initially centered in Khartoum but quickly spread to other areas, including Darfur, where the conflict has taken on an ethnic dimension.
The US State Department has accused the RSF and the Sudanese military of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur.
More than 6 million people have been displaced by the conflict, including 1.2 million who have fled to neighboring countries.
With the agreement to a ceasefire and political dialogue, there is hope that the suffering in Sudan can finally come to an end.
