Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has endorsed the United Nations Security Council’s call for a halt to hostilities during the upcoming Muslim holy month of Ramadan, offering a potential relief from the ongoing 11-month conflict.
With Ramadan set to commence on Sunday evening, the RSF conveyed optimism that the Security Council’s resolution would alleviate the suffering of the Sudanese people by facilitating the unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid. RSF sees this as a step toward initiating a political process that could ultimately lead to a lasting ceasefire.
Since the outbreak of war in Sudan on April 15, 2023, pitting the Sudanese army against the RSF, the United Nations estimates that nearly 25 million people—half of Sudan’s population—require aid.
Approximately 8 million individuals have been displaced, and hunger is on the rise, with accusations of war crimes leveled against the warring factions by Washington.
On Friday, the Security Council adopted a resolution, drafted by Britain, calling for a cessation of hostilities during Ramadan with 14 votes in favor, while Russia abstained. However, the specifics of how the resolution will be implemented remain unclear.
Sudan’s U.N. ambassador, Al-Harith Idriss Al-Harith Mohamed, informed the council on Thursday that the president of the country’s transitional council appreciated U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’s appeal for a Ramadan truce but expressed uncertainty about the practicalities of achieving it.
In response, the RSF, in a statement on Saturday, expressed readiness to engage in discussions regarding the establishment of mutually agreed-upon monitoring mechanisms.
The RSF believes these mechanisms are vital for ensuring the effective implementation of the ceasefire and for achieving the humanitarian objectives outlined in the resolution.
