As the war that erupted in Sudan on April 15, 2023, between the army and the Rapid Support Forces continues, the Russian ambassador to Cairo, Georgiy Borisenko, expressed his hope that the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces will avoid expanding the scope of the conflict. In statements made to the Middle East News Agency on Monday, he noted that Moscow supports the resumption of Jeddah negotiations and the cessation of fighting in Sudan.
At the same time, he emphasized that Moscow does not dictate to the Sudanese what their government should look like, nor does it interfere in their choice of government, whether civilian or military.
Thousands killed and more than 8.5 million displaced
It is noteworthy that Sudan has been embroiled in a conflict for over a year between the army led by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the Rapid Support Forces led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, resulting in the deaths of thousands of Sudanese. The war has pushed the country, with a population of 48 million, to the brink of famine, destroyed already dilapidated infrastructure, and caused the displacement of more than 8.5 million people, according to the United Nations.
The displacement crisis has become “the biggest displacement crisis in the world at the moment,” as confirmed by the Director-General of the International Organization for Migration, Amy Pope.
So far, all international efforts have not succeeded in urging the parties to negotiate directly to reach a political solution that would return Sudan to its democratic path and stop the war, despite negotiations that took place in March 2023 in Jeddah, which led to a joint declaration agreed upon by the warring parties to cease fire, allow aid entry, and withdraw from some medical and other sites.
However, none of these commitments were fully realized subsequently, and clashes between the two military forces continue to this day.
The ongoing conflict in Sudan has seen significant international responses, including targeted sanctions aimed at curtailing the activities of the major combatants and pushing towards a peaceful resolution.
The United States has imposed sanctions on entities that are funding the conflict in Sudan. These measures target specific organizations that are believed to contribute financially to the ongoing violence, aiming to disrupt their operations and limit their impact on the conflict. Similarly, the UK has also taken a strong stance against those fueling the conflict in Sudan. It has sanctioned several businesses associated with the leaders of the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces. These sanctions are part of a broader effort to pressure the warring factions into peace negotiations and to stop atrocities against civilians. The sanctioned entities include conglomerates and companies that provide financial and material support to the military groups involved in the conflict.
