It confirmed that the statement contained inaccurate information and did not reflect the reality on the ground. In an official statement, it explained, “The ‘ALPS’ statement ignored the efforts made by the government in cooperation with humanitarian organizations to deliver aid to all those affected,” expressing its dissatisfaction at the omission of the siege imposed by the ‘Rapid Support Forces’ on the city of El Fasher, and the violations committed by targeting relief convoys, hindering aid delivery, and destroying infrastructure, endangering civilian lives.
The ministry added that “the statement did not consider the Security Council’s decisions nor the repeated regional and international calls to stop the ‘Rapid Support Forces’ violations,” stressing “the Sudanese government’s rejection of equating its constitutional institutions with a terrorist militia that has committed documented crimes against the Sudanese people,” and confirmed that it “will not accept any dictates that affect the country’s sovereignty or its right to make decisions in the interest of its people.”
The Sudanese government also renewed its commitment to cooperate with countries and organizations that respect Sudan’s sovereignty, aiming to enhance security and stability and restore basic services to ensure the return of the displaced to their areas and their return to normal life.
The Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs concluded its statement by affirming Khartoum’s readiness to work with all parties that support its sovereignty and constitutional rights, in order to protect its resources and achieve comprehensive stability in the country.
Yesterday, Wednesday, the United States and its partners from the United Nations and the Middle East called on the warring parties in Sudan to maintain humanitarian aid supply routes, according to a joint statement published by the U.S. Department of State. The statement, signed by the U.S., the United Nations, the African Union, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, and the United Arab Emirates, stated, “The ALPS coalition [Working Group for Enhancing Life-Saving and Peace in Sudan] calls on the warring parties to: remove all bureaucratic barriers that hinder and prevent humanitarian activities; and commit to keeping main supply routes open for humanitarian convoys and workers, including through humanitarian pauses and other arrangements as needed.”
The statement added that these measures should include extending the Adri crossing in the long term, agreements on the anticipated and sustainable use of main roads leading to Darfur and Kordofan, as well as opening additional crossings from South Sudan. The signatories urged the conflicting parties to ensure the safety of humanitarian workers and guarantee aid delivery to civilians. They also called for restoring communication services across Sudan and protecting vital civilian infrastructure, particularly energy, water, and health.
The statement added, “In some areas – notably North Darfur and Kordofan – there is an urgent need for measures to calm the situation to enable humanitarian actors to deliver aid, and therefore, the ‘ALPS’ group calls on the parties to the conflict to adhere to the commitments of Jeddah, and allow humanitarian ceasefires to enable the transport of life-saving supplies to these areas, and to remove obstacles to the movement of civilians away from danger.”
In April 2023, violent and widespread clashes erupted between the forces and the Rapid Support Forces in various regions of Sudan, with both parties attempting to control vital locations. Arab, African, and international parties mediated to reach a ceasefire, but these mediations have not succeeded in achieving a permanent ceasefire.
