The commander of Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has announced a two-day “unilateral” ceasefire to coincide with the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha.
This was disclosed in an audio recording shared on Facebook, Mohamed Hamdan “Hemedti” Dagalo.
Hemedti stated that the ceasefire would be in effect on the eve of Eid and the day of Eid al-Adha, with the exception of situations involving self-defense.
Hemedti expressed his hope that the Eid holiday would serve as an opportunity for reconciliation among the Sudanese people. Recognizing the dire humanitarian conditions resulting from the ongoing conflict, he emphasized the aim of emerging from the war as a more united and stronger nation.
As of now, the Sudanese army has not issued a statement regarding the potential ceasefire.
Eid al-Adha, known as the Festival of Sacrifice, holds immense importance for Muslims worldwide and marks the culmination of the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.
The conflict between the Sudanese army and the RSF has inflicted significant devastation since mid-April, claiming the lives of at least 2,000 civilians and leaving thousands more injured. Khartoum and el-Geneina have been the hardest-hit areas, but tensions and clashes have recently escalated in other parts of Darfur and in Kordofan in the south.
According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), nearly two million people have been internally displaced due to the conflict, while over 600,000 have sought refuge in neighboring countries.
A staggering 25 million people in Sudan, more than half of the country’s population, are in dire need of aid and protection. However, the United Nations reports that it has received only a fraction of the necessary funding.
Despite several ceasefire initiatives during the months-long conflict, both parties have accused each other of violating the truce agreements. In recent days, fighting has intensified following the failure of a series of ceasefire deals negotiated in Jeddah under the guidance of the United States and Saudi Arabia.
