MEDIA STATEMENT

The Rapid Support Forces express their deep gratitude and appreciation to the mediation parties, namely the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States of America, for their remarkable endeavors in fostering closer ties among the Sudanese factions.

We extend sincere thanks and admiration to the leadership and people of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for graciously hosting the negotiations in Jeddah. Furthermore, we reaffirm our unwavering commitment to the Saudi-American initiative, which aims to bring about comprehensive solutions that establish a civil and democratic state.

On Wednesday, May 31, 2023, we received notification from the mediators regarding the suspension of participation by the coup plotters and remnants of the defunct regime in the talks. The mediation also issued a statement declaring the suspension of negotiations until a future date to be determined. Therefore, we would like to clarify the following points.

The delegation representing the coup plotters arrived in Jeddah with multiple representatives from different decision-making bodies who disagreed on everything, lacking the necessary powers or authorization. This caused confusion and delays in the negotiations, which, in turn, resulted in a clear lack of commitment on the part of the remnants to the ceasefire agreement. Consequently, the humanitarian truce became one-sided. The coup plotters have committed numerous violations, including:

• Conducting aerial bombardments resulting in the deaths and injuries of hundreds of civilians.

• Destroying public and private infrastructure, including United Nations premises.

• Engaging in reconnaissance flights and military maneuvers.

• Indiscriminate shelling of populated areas, resulting in casualties.

• Occupying public hospitals and healthcare facilities.

• Committing acts of sexual violence against women and instilling fear among citizens in the northern regions of Omdurman.

• Engaging in looting of homes.

• Mobilizing forces and arming civilians.

• Engaging in targeted killings and assassinations based on racial grounds.

• Unlawfully arresting civilians, medical personnel, and resistance committees.

These repeated violations have impeded the primary objective of the ceasefire, which is to address the dire humanitarian situation faced by the Sudanese people as a result of this crisis.

We have received confirmation that the coup plotters, by suspending their participation in the negotiations, deliberately imposed unattainable preconditions in order to undermine the negotiation process. This has been their objective since the outset, as they seek to ignite discord and widen the scope of the conflict.

The Rapid Support Forces reaffirm their unwavering commitment to diligently and patiently thwart all coup plots, leading to a peaceful and democratic transformation that ensures security and stability for our people.