Arab efforts in the hope of a breakthrough between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) persist. Following the failure of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) to bring together the SAF and RSF leaders, Khartoum announced freezing its membership in the IGAD because the latter received the RSF commander.

According to Sudanese sources, Arab efforts in Sudan include meetings held in Manama, Bahrain, between Lieutenant General Shamseddin Kabashi, deputy commander-in-chief of the Sudanese army, and Abdul-Rahim Dagalo, deputy leader of the RSF, under the auspices of Arab countries.

The meetings aim to establish an understanding leading to the expected resumption of the Jeddah Platform in mid-February, which had been halted in December after reaching an impasse. It is anticipated that the meetings in Manama will culminate in a gathering between Abdul-Fattah Al-Burhan, head of the Transitional Sovereignty Council, and RSF Commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, aka Hemedti.

At a joint press conference with his Saudi counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, on Sunday, Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukri said Egypt and Saudi Arabia agree on the imperative to effect a ceasefire in Sudan.

Egypt hosted a workshop organised by Promediation, a French non-profit organisation, with the support of the French and Egyptian foreign ministries, involving delegations from Sudanese armed movements and the RSF. But the army delegation and other movements boycotted the workshop. Discussions focused on humanitarian and security conditions in Sudan, particularly in Darfur. Participants emphasised the need to encourage all parties to return to the negotiating table, sign a ceasefire agreement, and facilitate the flow of humanitarian aid to those who need it.

Algeria joined in efforts to propose ceasefire initiatives. An Algerian delegation arrived in Port Sudan with proposals to host negotiations between the SAF and RSF, after which Al-Burhan visited Algeria last Sunday. Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, on receiving Al-Burhan, affirmed his country’s support for Sudan in overcoming challenges and confronting hostile forces. He highlighted views shared by Algeria and Sudan on various regional and international issues.

Arab efforts are driven by various concerns regarding Sudan, including the expansion of conflict. Recent clashes between the SAF and RSF in Babanusa, the largest city in West Kordofan state, have raised concerns, particularly as the RSF aim to control the city where the leadership of the 22nd Infantry Division of the Sudanese army is situated.

Other concerns include the worsening humanitarian crisis in Sudan, with over 13,000 fatalities and 26,000 injuries reported from ongoing fighting in Sudan. More than 25 million Sudanese are grappling with a severe lack of urgent humanitarian needs.

The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) reported that 10.7 million have been displaced since April 2023 due to the ongoing conflict in Sudan. The IOM said the figure was shocking, constituting the largest displacement globally. The organisation called for intensified international efforts to address the humanitarian situation urgently.

IOM Director-General Amy Pope said the Sudanese make up one-eighth of the world’s internally displaced, adding that the displaced Sudanese suffer severe shortages of food, shelter, healthcare, and sanitation. The deteriorating conditions, Pope noted, elevate the risk of disease and malnutrition. Criticising the UN’s response as insufficient, Pope stressed the imperative of not neglecting the millions in need of support.

Karim Khan, prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, said in his report to the UN Security Council that the conflict in Sudan has led to catastrophic humanitarian conditions. There are concerns that the intensifying conflict may result in the division of Sudan, given the control exercised by the RSF over large areas, while the Sudanese army retains control over others.

A major obstacle to resolving the crisis in Sudan is the lack of conviction on the part of both parties, or at least influential factions within them, regarding the necessity of a solution. This, despite the substantial losses and the high price paid by both parties and the Sudanese people.

Mike Hammer, the US envoy to the Horn of Africa, said none of the parties to the Sudanese conflict is convinced of the need to effect a ceasefire immediately, warning that the continuation of hostilities might lead to the division of Sudan.

The involvement of undesired parties, such as Iran, is a cause for concern among both Arabs and Westerners. Khartoum and Tehran have sought to restore bilateral relations, severed in 2016, to garner support for the Sudanese army through the supply of Iranian weapons amid the ongoing conflict. Western sources have confirmed that Iran supplied the Sudanese army with Mohajer 6 drones, capable of surveillance and carrying explosives. The RSF said it shot down some of these single-engine drones manufactured in Iran.

In the meantime, it has been noted that not all Arab efforts complement each other, while the Jeddah Platform, despite making progress, still requires further development and perhaps a change in its methodology. Its enhancement could involve the inclusion of other regional and international powers, as well as the engagement of civil forces in Sudan. Above all, unifying the Arab position on Sudan is crucial.

* A version of this article appears in print in the 1 February, 2024 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly