https://en.sputniknews.africa/20240415/uk-foreign-office-is-in-secret-talks-with-sudans-rapid-support-forces-report-reveals-1066075387.html
UK Foreign Office is in Secret Talks With Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces, Report Reveals
UK Foreign Office is in Secret Talks With Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces, Report Reveals
Sputnik Africa
Exactly one year ago, on April 15, 2023, a conflict began between Sudan's army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Despite several rounds of... 15.04.2024, Sputnik Africa
2024-04-15T16:57+0200
2024-04-15T16:57+0200
2024-04-15T19:00+0200
armed clashes in sudan
sudan
united kingdom (uk)
rapid support forces (rsf)
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mohamed hamdan dagalo
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Officials from the UK Foreign Office are engaging in confidential negotiations with the Sudanese paramilitary organization Rapid Support Forces that has been fighting for a year with the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and is accused of carrying out a systematic campaign of ethnic cleansing in the country over the past 12 months, the British media outlet reported on Monday.The last meeting between the UK and the RSF took place last month, a freedom of information response to the press reportedly revealed.UK authorities also stated that the office, however, has not yet had a meeting with Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, the commander of the RSF, according to the report.The FCDO spokesperson reportedly explained that the negotiations aimed to "prevent further atrocities from occurring, to press both parties into a permanent ceasefire, to allow unrestricted humanitarian access", especially in Darfur, a region in western Sudan that is largely controlled by the RSF.Furthermore, the Foreign Office claimed that it will make sure that both SAF and RSF will be held accountable as they "dragged Sudan into an unjustified war, with an utter disregard for the Sudanese people."This news, however, was not received positively by some human rights organizations, as it legitimizes the RSF, which is accused of war crimes. In particular, Sharath Srinivasan, co-director of the Center of Governance and Human Rights, reportedly warned against such negotiations, as they would only add fuel to the fire of the Sudanese conflict.Moreover, it is important to remember that previous international attempts to restore peace in this African country backfired: in 2022, with the help of international political efforts, the Sudanese military and a number of key civilian figures signed a framework agreement, which led to a rift between al-Burhan and Hemedti, because one of the elements of this agreement was the integration of the RSF into the structure of the armed forces, which meant a potential loss of influence for Hemedti.The full-scale military conflict that broke out shortly after the signing of the framework agreement has caused significant damage to the country. In an exclusive interview with Sputnik published on Monday, Sudan's Health Minister Haitham Mohamed Ibrahim revealed the conflict have killed 13,000 people, injured about 60,000 and left more than 70% of hospitals and medical facilities out of action.Furthermore, last Friday, the United Nations warned that 25 million people in Sudan are in need of humanitarian assistance and 8.6 million have been forced to flee their homes, while 4.86 million people are acutely malnourished, with three quarters of them being children under five years.
https://en.sputniknews.africa/20240415/one-year-of-conflict-in-sudan-what-behind-bloodshed--is-there-an-end-in-sight-1066057918.html
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UK Foreign Office is in Secret Talks With Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces, Report Reveals
16:57 15.04.2024 (Updated: 19:00 15.04.2024) Exactly one year ago, on April 15, 2023, a conflict began between Sudan's army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Despite several rounds of negotiations and ceasefire announcements, the crisis continues to claim thousands of lives and drive others to seek refuge in other countries.
Officials from the UK Foreign Office are engaging in confidential negotiations with the Sudanese paramilitary organization Rapid Support Forces that has been fighting for a year with the
Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and is accused of carrying out a systematic campaign of
ethnic cleansing in the country over the past 12 months, the British media outlet reported on Monday.
The last meeting between the UK and the RSF took place last month, a freedom of information response to the press reportedly revealed.
“The FCDO [Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office] has both tried, and been successful in, contacting representatives from the Rapid Support Forces. The last successful contact was on Wednesday 6 March when officials from the FCDO met with representatives from the RSF,” the response read, as cited by the media.
UK authorities also stated that the office, however, has not yet had a meeting with Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, the commander of the
RSF, according to the report.
The FCDO spokesperson reportedly explained that the negotiations aimed to "prevent further atrocities from occurring, to press both parties into a permanent ceasefire, to allow unrestricted humanitarian access", especially in Darfur, a region in western Sudan that is largely controlled by the RSF.
Furthermore, the Foreign Office claimed that it will make sure that both SAF and RSF will be held accountable as they "dragged Sudan into an unjustified war, with an utter disregard for the Sudanese people."
This news, however, was not received positively by some human rights organizations, as it legitimizes the RSF, which is accused of
war crimes. In particular, Sharath Srinivasan, co-director of the Center of Governance and Human Rights, reportedly warned against such negotiations, as they would only add fuel to the fire of the Sudanese conflict.
Moreover, it is important to remember that previous international attempts to restore peace in this African country backfired: in 2022, with the help of international political efforts, the Sudanese military and a number of key civilian figures signed a framework agreement, which led to a rift between al-Burhan and Hemedti, because one of the elements of this agreement was the integration of the RSF into the structure of the armed forces, which meant a potential loss of influence for Hemedti.
The full-scale military conflict that broke out shortly after the signing of the framework agreement has caused significant damage to the country. In an exclusive interview with Sputnik published on Monday, Sudan's Health Minister Haitham Mohamed Ibrahim revealed the conflict have killed 13,000 people, injured about 60,000 and left more than 70% of hospitals and medical facilities out of action.
Furthermore, last Friday, the
United Nations warned that 25 million people in Sudan are in need of humanitarian assistance and 8.6 million have been forced to flee their homes, while 4.86 million people are acutely malnourished, with
three quarters of them being children under five years.
