Extension of an Agreement on Short-Term Ceasefire and Humanitarian Arrangements in Sudan

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Country/entity: Sudan
Region: Africa (excl MENA)
Agreement name: Extension of an Agreement on Short-Term Ceasefire and Humanitarian Arrangements in Sudan
Date: 29 May 2023
Agreement status: Multiparty signed/agreed
Interim arrangement: Yes
Agreement/conflict level: Intrastate/intrastate conflict
Sudan Conflicts (1955 - )
Agreements relate to several distinct dyads, and also the negotiated independence of South Sudan, and subsequent internal conflict in South Sudan. Sudan-South Sudan. The long-standing conflict between the north and the south of the country dates back to colonial times, where the British introduced a so-called ‘Southern Policy’, severely hampering population movements between these big regions. Immediately after gaining independence in 1956, southern movements started to fight for independence; this fight became professionalised in 1983 with the foundation of the soon internationally supported Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA). When the Islamic Front government introduced strict sharia laws in the south after it took over power in 1988 the war intensified. A decade later, the military situation reached a stalemate, enabling internationally facilitated peace negotiations to begin in 1997. After more fighting, a final negotiation push began in 2002, leading to the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Areement (CPA) in January 2005.

Sudan-South Sudan post referendum. South Sudan became independent in July 2011; since then, relations between the two countries are complicated and violent conflict led by the SPLM (North) in the Sudanese Nuba mountains region has since intensified.

Darfur. Other long-standing violent conflicts are in the east and the west of the country. In the east, the Beja Congress, established in 1957, is the spearhead of a currently ‘peaceful’ opposition movement. In the west, the violent conflict in Darfur intensified in the early 2000s and rapidly gained international attention, even resulting in genocide charges against leading figures of the Sudanese government. The situation on the ground is complex, with over a dozen organisations (most notably the Sudanese Liberation Movement and the Justice and Equality Movement) fighting the Sudanese government and allied groups like the Janjaweed – although all parties have switched sides on numerous occasions. Several mediation attempts have not been successful, due to the shaky commitment of the Sudanese central government and the distrust among the armed opposition.

South Sudan - internal
In December 2013, after president Salva Kiir accused opposition leader Riek Machar of attempting a coup, violent conflict broke out between government forces of the SPLM/A and anti-governmental groups. In addition, several other political militias as well as communal militias have joined the conflict. In 2015 the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (ARCSS) was signed. Due to unsuccessful implementation the agreement was revitalized in 2018. In September 2019, Kiir and Machar agreed to establish a power-sharing government after struggles on forming a unity transitional government.
Stage: Ceasefire/related
Conflict nature: Government/territory
Peace process: Sudan Transition Process
Parties: Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF)

Rapid Support Forces (RSF)
Third parties: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

United States of America
Description: The military and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan agreed to a five-day extension of a ceasefire, announced jointly by international mediators Saudi Arabia and the United States on Monday. The extension comes amidst ongoing violence since mid-April led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and RSF leader General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, causing the death of at least 866 civilians and displacement of nearly 1.4 million people. The ceasefire extension aims to allow further humanitarian assistance, restore essential services, and discuss a potential longer-term extension, though previous truce efforts have been marred by persistent violations from both sides.

Agreement document: SD_230519_Joint Facilitators Statement on the Extension of an Agreement (opens in new tab) | Download PDF

Groups

Children/youth: No specific mention.
Disabled persons: No specific mention.
Elderly/age: No specific mention.
Migrant workers: No specific mention.
Racial/ethnic/national group: No specific mention.
Religious groups: No specific mention.
Indigenous people: No specific mention.
Other groups: No specific mention.
Refugees/displaced persons: No specific mention.
Social class: No specific mention.

Gender

Women, girls and gender: No specific mention.
Men and boys: No specific mention.
LGBTI: No specific mention.
Family: No specific mention.

State definition

Nature of state (general): No specific mention.
State configuration: No specific mention.
Self determination: No specific mention.
Referendum: No specific mention.
State symbols: No specific mention.
Independence/secession: No specific mention.
Accession/unification: No specific mention.
Border delimitation: No specific mention.
Cross-border provision: No specific mention.

Governance

Political institutions (new or reformed): No specific mention.
Elections: No specific mention.
Electoral commission: No specific mention.
Political parties reform: No specific mention.
Civil society: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States of America announce that on May 2023 ,29, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, representatives of the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces signed a five-day extension to the May 20 Agreement on a Short-Term Ceasefire and Humanitarian Arrangements to provide more time for humanitarian actors to undertake their vital work.
The parties affirmed their intention to use the five-day extension to implement provisions of the first ceasefire that were not fully achieved, including further deliveries of humanitarian assistance, facilitation of essential services repair, and evacuation of armed actors from hospitals.
Traditional/religious leaders: No specific mention.
Public administration: No specific mention.
Constitution: No specific mention.

Power sharing

Political power sharing: No specific mention.
Territorial power sharing: No specific mention.
Economic power sharing: No specific mention.
Military power sharing: No specific mention.

Human rights and equality

Human rights/RoL general: No specific mention.
Bill of rights/similar: No specific mention.
Treaty incorporation: No specific mention.
Civil and political rights: No specific mention.
Socio-economic rights: No specific mention.

Rights related issues

Citizenship: No specific mention.
Democracy: No specific mention.
Detention procedures: No specific mention.
Media and communication: No specific mention.
Mobility/access: The parties affirmed their intention to use the five-day extension to implement provisions of the first ceasefire that were not fully achieved, including further deliveries of humanitarian assistance, facilitation of essential services repair, and evacuation of armed actors from hospitals.
The parties also agreed to discuss a longer-term ceasefire that could entail vacating forces from urban areas, including civilian homes, further removal of impediments to the free movement of civilians and humanitarian assistance, and enabling public servants to resume their regular duties.
Protection measures: Rights related issues→Protection measures→Protection of civilians
The parties also agreed to discuss a longer-term ceasefire that could entail vacating forces from urban areas, including civilian homes, further removal of impediments to the free movement of civilians and humanitarian assistance, and enabling public servants to resume their regular duties.
Other: No specific mention.

Rights institutions

NHRI: No specific mention.
Regional or international human rights institutions: No specific mention.

Justice sector reform

Criminal justice and emergency law: No specific mention.
State of emergency provisions: No specific mention.
Judiciary and courts: No specific mention.
Prisons and detention: No specific mention.
Traditional Laws: No specific mention.

Socio-economic reconstruction

Development or socio-economic reconstruction: No specific mention.
National economic plan: No specific mention.
Natural resources: No specific mention.
International funds: No specific mention.
Business: No specific mention.
Taxation: No specific mention.
Banks: No specific mention.

Land, property and environment

Land reform/rights: No specific mention.
Pastoralist/nomadism rights: No specific mention.
Cultural heritage: No specific mention.
Environment: No specific mention.
Water or riparian rights or access: No specific mention.

Security sector

Security Guarantees: No specific mention.
Ceasefire: Security sector→Ceasefire→Ceasefire provision
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States of America announce that on May 2023 ,29, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, representatives of the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces signed a five-day extension to the May 20 Agreement on a Short-Term Ceasefire and Humanitarian Arrangements to provide more time for humanitarian actors to undertake their vital work.
The parties affirmed their intention to use the five-day extension to implement provisions of the first ceasefire that were not fully achieved, including further deliveries of humanitarian assistance, facilitation of essential services repair, and evacuation of armed actors from hospitals.
The facilitators condemned continued airstrikes, attacks, and prohibited movements, urging that the parties honor their obligations to refrain from those acts during the five-day extension.
The parties also agreed to discuss a longer-term ceasefire that could entail vacating forces from urban areas, including civilian homes, further removal of impediments to the free movement of civilians and humanitarian assistance, and enabling public servants to resume their regular duties.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States of America remind the parties that it remains incumbent on them to adhere to their obligations under the May 20 short-term ceasefire agreement and the preceding Declaration of Commitment to Protect the Civilians of Sudan.
Police: No specific mention.
Armed forces: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States of America announce that on May 2023 ,29, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, representatives of the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces signed a five-day extension to the May 20 Agreement on a Short-Term Ceasefire and Humanitarian Arrangements to provide more time for humanitarian actors to undertake their vital work.
DDR: No specific mention.
Intelligence services: No specific mention.
Parastatal/rebel and opposition group forces: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States of America announce that on May 2023 ,29, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, representatives of the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces signed a five-day extension to the May 20 Agreement on a Short-Term Ceasefire and Humanitarian Arrangements to provide more time for humanitarian actors to undertake their vital work.
Withdrawal of foreign forces: No specific mention.
Corruption: No specific mention.
Crime/organised crime: No specific mention.
Drugs: No specific mention.
Terrorism: No specific mention.

Transitional justice

Transitional justice general: No specific mention.
Amnesty/pardon: No specific mention.
Courts: No specific mention.
Mechanism: No specific mention.
Prisoner release: No specific mention.
Vetting: No specific mention.
Victims: No specific mention.
Missing persons: No specific mention.
Reparations: No specific mention.
Reconciliation: No specific mention.

Implementation

UN signatory: No specific mention.
Other international signatory: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States of America remind the parties that it remains incumbent on them to adhere to their obligations under the May 20 short-term ceasefire agreement and the preceding Declaration of Commitment to Protect the Civilians of Sudan.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 29 May 2023 / 09 Dhual-Qa'dah 1444
Referendum for agreement: No specific mention.
International mission/force/similar: No specific mention.
Enforcement mechanism: No specific mention.
Related cases: No specific mention.
Source: No specific mention.

Joint Facilitators' Statement by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States of America on the Extension of an Agreement on a Short-Term Ceasefire and Humanitarian Arrangements in Sudan

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States of America announce that on May 2023 ,29, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, representatives of the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces signed a five-day extension to the May 20 Agreement on a Short-Term Ceasefire and Humanitarian Arrangements to provide more time for humanitarian actors to undertake their vital work.

The parties affirmed their intention to use the five-day extension to implement provisions of the first ceasefire that were not fully achieved, including further deliveries of humanitarian assistance, facilitation of essential services repair, and evacuation of armed actors from hospitals.

The facilitators condemned continued airstrikes, attacks, and prohibited movements, urging that the parties honor their obligations to refrain from those acts during the five-day extension.

The parties also agreed to discuss a longer-term ceasefire that could entail vacating forces from urban areas, including civilian homes, further removal of impediments to the free movement of civilians and humanitarian assistance, and enabling public servants to resume their regular duties.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States of America remind the parties that it remains incumbent on them to adhere to their obligations under the May 20 short-term ceasefire agreement and the preceding Declaration of Commitment to Protect the Civilians of Sudan.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 29 May 2023 / 09 Dhual-Qa'dah 1444