Sudanese envoy calls for regional efforts to bring peace

JUBA – A Sudanese envoy has appealed to regional leaders to exert efforts to bring an end to the deadly conflict which erupted in Sudan in mid-April 2023.

Gamal M. A. Goraish, the Chargé D’Affaires at the Sudanese embassy in South Sudan was speaking in an interview held in the South Sudan capital, Juba on Friday.

“We rely on our regional partners because this war is not going to stop only in Sudan, it could go to other countries in the region and security of Sudan is security of the neighboring countries,” said Goraish.

“The government is ready as per conditions announced by President Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan. Nobody wants the war to continue because we are losing innocent lives. Kids, women, elders and Sudanese people are losing their properties,” he added.

According to the Sudanese official, the Jeddah Declaration which was signed in May 2023 is considered as a real step towards realizing an end to the conflict.

More than 12,000 people, the United Nations estimates, have died since fighting broke out between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) under Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo.

Goraish said the RSF are occupying residential houses, government institutions, places of worship and cities contrary to provisions in the Jeddah Declaration.

He appealed to the paramilitary group to implement the Jeddah Declaration.

Since 6 May 2023, Saudi Arabia and the United States have been sponsoring talks between the Sudanese warring parties in the Saudi Arabia city of Jeddah.

Several truces were reached, but both sides accuse the other of violations.

Goraish said that the war in Sudan has expanded from Khartoum to Darfur, South Kordofan and Gezira state, adding that the attempt by RSF to topple the government has led to several casualties, lootings, raping and loss of properties.

“The government is very sincere about bringing peace, we must work to bring peace that recognizes the dignity of the Sudanese people, peace that brings justice to those who lose their lives and properties,” he stressed.

The diplomat said the political coalitions in Sudan, including the Coordination of Civil Democratic Forces led by former Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok and Sudan National Democratic Alliance differ on how to peacefully end the war.

“We want the war to stop, but we cannot go back again to the same scenario of having two armies in the country,” stated Goraish.

“We are still hopeful that we can have peace in Sudan, peace must come because that is what Sudanese people deserve, they do not deserve to be living in IDP and refugee camps in neighboring countries,” he added.

About 5.3 million people have been displaced within Sudan, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Displacement Tracking Matrix. In addition, it says, about 1.3 million people crossed into neighboring countries, including the Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia and South Sudan.