(MENAFN- Daily News Egypt) Commander of the Sudanese armed forces (SAF) Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan announced on Tuesday that the Sudanese army will observe the ceasefire proposed by international forces starting from 6 pm Tuesday for 24 hours.
“We didn't agree on a start time, but we will definitely stick to the tripartite mechanism's proposal for a 24-hour [truce], starting at 6 pm Tuesday,” Al-Burhan told CNN.
The tripartite mechanism is the United Nations Transition Support Mission in the Sudan (UNMIS), the African Union (AU) and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD).
Earlier, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) announced the approval of a 24-hour ceasefire and accused the Sudanese army of breaching the truce.
RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, also known as Hemeti, approved the 24-hour truce to ensure the safe passage of civilians and the evacuation of the wounded.
“We are waiting for further discussions with the US secretary of state Antony
Blinken on how best to address the violations committed by the Sudanese army,” Hemeti said.
Blinken“emphasized the urgent need for a ceasefire, to allow for the delivery of humanitarian assistance to those affected by the fighting, to reunite Sudanese families, and to ensure the safety of international community organizations in Khartoum,” a State Department statement said.
The Minister also expressed grave concern over the death and injury of many Sudanese civilians due to the ongoing and indiscriminate fighting and stressed the responsibility of commanders to ensure the safety and well-being of civilians, diplomatic personnel and humanitarian workers.
Egypt's President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi had stated:“Egypt's position is not to interfere in Sudan's affairs,” pointing out that“the elements of the Egyptian army present in Sudan would never have supported one party at the expense of the other.”
During a meeting with the Supreme Council of the Egyptian Armed Forces, Al-Sisi explained that“elements of the Egyptian Army were present under a protocol to conduct joint training with the Sudanese Army.”
“We are making intensive contacts to confirm the security and safety of our personnel in Sudan, in accordance with the joint training protocol,” he said.
“We are in contact with the Sudanese army, the RSF, to encourage them to stop firing, to negotiate a restoration of stability,” the president continued.
“It is neither in the interest nor in the stability of Sudan that there be infighting,” AL-Sisi said, calling on the parties to the conflict to“sit at the negotiating table.”
“The role that Cairo can play is to calm the situation and restore security and stability to Sudan between the parties,” the Egyptian president said.
Regarding the development in Sudan, Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry received a telephone call on Tuesday from the Greek Foreign Minister“Nikos Dendias” on the developments of the situation in Sudan.
The two ministers confirmed the seriousness of the current situation in Sudan and the need to reach a ceasefire agreement as a matter of urgency.
The two sides also agreed on the importance of treating the ongoing conflict as an internal matter, and the need for no external parties to interfere in a way that hinders efforts to contain the crisis.
Egypt's flag carrier EgyptAir on Tuesday said it will continue the suspension of its flight to and from Sudan's Khartoum International Airport due to the continuous instability in Sudan.
In a statement, EgyptAir said:“the suspension will continue until further notice.”
On Saturday, EgyptAir said flights to and from the Khartoum International Airport would be grounded for 72 hours after clashes erupted between the Sudanese army and its RSF.
At least 180 people have been killed and more than 1,800 wounded since the fighting that is concentrated in the capital Khartoum began, according to the UN.