Sudan’s army has suspended its participation in talks over a ceasefire and humanitarian access, raising fears of renewed fighting that has displaced hundreds of thousands of people.
The talks with the rival paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) began in the Saudi Arabian port city of Jeddah in early May and produced a declaration of commitments to protecting civilians and two short-term ceasefire deals that have been repeatedly violated.
The army and the RSF had agreed to extend a weeklong ceasefire deal by five days just before it was due to expire late on Monday.
According to Al Jazeera, Diplomatic sources say that the army was suspending its participation in the talks.
A spokesman for the army, Brigadier Nabil Abdalla, also told the Associated Press news agency the decision was in response to the RSF’s alleged “repeated violations” of the humanitarian ceasefire, including their continued occupation of hospitals and other civilian infrastructure in the capital, Khartoum.
