Sudanese military suspends talks with opponents

SUDAN’S military has suspended its participation in talks with a paramilitary force it has been battling for weeks for control of the country, a spokesman said.

The development was a blow to the US and Saudi Arabia which have mediating between the two sides whose conflict has plunged the African country into chaos.

Brigadier Nabil Abdalla, a spokesman for the Sudanese armed forces, told the Associated Press the move is a protest over the Rapid Support Forces’ “repeated violations” of a humanitarian ceasefire, including a continued occupation of hospitals and other civilian infrastructure in the capital Khartoum.

Sudan descended into chaos after fighting erupted in mid-April between the military, led by General Abdel-Fattah Burhan, and the RSF, commanded by General Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo.

The fighting has killed at least 866 civilians and wounded thousands more, according to the Sudanese Doctors’ Syndicate, which tracks civilian casualties. The toll could be much higher, the medical group has previously said. Brig Abdalla said the military wants to ensure the terms of US-Saudi-brokered truce “be fully implemented” before discussing further steps.

On May 21, both sides signed a ceasefire agreement allowing for the delivery of humanitarian assistance and the restoration of essential services destroyed in the clashes.

They also agreed to stop the looting of residential properties and humanitarian aid, as well as the taking over of civilian infrastructure such as hospitals and power plants.

There was no immediate comment from Saudi Arabia or the US.