4/16/2023 – | Last updated: 4/16/2023 11:17 PM (Makkah Al-Mukarramah)
Arab and international reactions to the clashes taking place in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, and other areas continue for the second day in a row, as the UN Security Council expressed its concern, calling for an "immediate" cessation of hostilities and a return to dialogue.
The European Union's Security and Foreign Policy Coordinator, Josep Borrell, called on "everyone to make efforts to stop hostilities and return the political transition process to a civilian leadership," calling at the same time what he described as external parties to refrain from interfering in Sudan.
The Saudi Foreign Ministry, in turn, called on both sides of the conflict to calm down and give priority to the national interest, while an emergency meeting of the Council of the League of Arab States called for an immediate halt to the fighting, offering mediation.
And the French Press Agency stated that the Chairman of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki, will immediately go to Khartoum as part of efforts to settle the crisis.
The office of Kenyan President William Ruto also said on Twitter that the Intergovernmental Authority on Development for East African States (IGAD) intends to send the presidents of Kenya, South Sudan and Djibouti to Sudan as soon as possible, to conduct a reconciliation between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces.
Security Council
A statement issued by the UN Security Council expressed the Council's deep concern over the clashes between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces.
The statement expressed the Council's regret for the loss of life and injuries among civilians.
Council member states urged the parties to immediately cease hostilities and restore security, and called on all parties to return to dialogue to resolve the current crisis.
Member States stressed the need to continue to provide humanitarian support, and to ensure the security of United Nations personnel.
Al-Jazeera learned from its sources in New York that the Council will hold closed consultations on Sudan tomorrow, Monday, at the request of Britain.
Saudi Arabia
On the other hand, the Saudi Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, today made a phone call with the head of the Sudanese Sovereignty Council, Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, and the commander of the Rapid Support Forces, Muhammad Hamdan Hamidti, in which he stressed the importance of calm and a return to the framework agreement.
The Saudi Foreign Ministry said that the minister called – during the call – on both sides to calm down, give priority to the national interest, and stop all forms of military escalation.
The minister stressed the need to return to the framework agreement that guarantees security and stability.
The Arab League
An emergency meeting of the Arab League Council today called for an immediate cessation of fighting in Sudan, offering mediation to resolve the crisis.
This came in a closing statement of the meeting held at the headquarters of the Arab League at the level of permanent delegates in Cairo, at the invitation of Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
According to the statement, the meeting demanded "the immediate cessation of all armed clashes in Sudan, and a speedy return to the peaceful path to resolving the crisis."
He stressed, "The League's readiness to make all efforts to help Sudan end the crisis in a sustainable manner, and in a manner consistent with the interest of the Sudanese people."
The meeting called on "Arab ambassadors in Khartoum to take action to contribute to restoring stability in the country by contacting all parties," calling on the League Council to "remain in a state of permanent session to follow up on developments in the situation in Sudan."
the African Union
Agence France-Presse reported that the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki, will head immediately to Khartoum as part of efforts to settle the crisis.
The Peace and Security Council of the African Union had expressed its deep concern about the bloody clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces.
He also called – in a statement after an emergency meeting in Addis Ababa – the two parties to an immediate cease-fire without conditions, and to quickly adopt a peaceful solution and comprehensive dialogue to resolve their differences.
The African Union urged the international community to support its initiative to stop the fighting and establish calm.
Earlier today, Egypt and South Sudan offered mediation between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces.
According to a statement issued today by the Egyptian presidency, the two neighbors of Sudan, from the north and south, appealed to all Sudanese parties to "give priority to the voice of wisdom and peaceful dialogue", during a phone call between Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and South Sudanese President Salva Kiir.
It is worth noting that the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces exchanged accusations that each of them launched an attack on the headquarters of the other, in addition to allegations of controlling positions belonging to each of them, while the army described the Rapid Support Forces as "rebellious", noting that the commander of these forces is Muhammad Hamdan Hamidti, who He holds the position of Vice-President of the Transitional Sovereignty Council, while the army commander, Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, presides over the Council.
