Sudan’s Army Rejects UN’s Appeal For Ceasefire During Ramadan

Sudan’s Army General Yasser al-Atta, deputy commander of the Sudanese army, has stated that there will be no truce during the holy month of Ramadan, according to a report in Reuters.  

“There are those who talk about a truce in Ramadan. There is no truce by order of the army and the people,” Atta said in a speech according to the report.

The Sudanese Army led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan is fighting the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo for control of the country. Fighting has erupted between both sides since mid-2023.

 

According to the UN report, 25 million people — half of Sudan’s population— need aid, while 13,900 fatalities have been recorded in the region.

UN Secretary General (UNSG) António Guterres had made an appeal for both sides on March 7 to stop the fighting at least during the holy month.

“In just a few days, the holy month of Ramadan will begin. Today, during a Security Council meeting on Sudan, I made an appeal to all actors involved in the conflict to honour a Ramadan cessation of hostilities. It is time to silence the guns and raise the volume for peace,” he wrote on X.

According to an Africa News report, Sudan’s army has stated that there can be no talk of a ceasefire unless the RSF withdraws from civilian homes and public facilities. It also states that Dagalo must have no future role in the country’s politics or any role in the military.

The RSF has however welcomed the ceasefire.

The paramilitary group said in a statement on Sunday that it welcomed the UN’s call for the end of violence. It stated that a ceasefire would “significantly lessen the suffering of the Sudanese people by ensuring the smooth delivery of humanitarian aid.” It would create a political process which could then eventually lead to a permanent ceasefire.