Sudanese Ex-PM Urges International Community to Push for Truce

Former Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok is calling on the international community to keep pressure on the warring sides in the Sudan conflict. Hamdok says the kind of engagement that enabled evacuations of foreigners could help bring a lasting truce. He spoke during the 2023 Mo Ibrahim Governance weekend in Kenya. Answering questions from Mo Ibrahim, the founder of the Ibrahim Foundation, Hamdok said a strong, unified approach by the international community would help end the military fighting in Sudan, which he terms senseless. According to the former prime minister, it is crucial to put clearly defined roles upon the military, which he said must stay away from politics.  Hamdok was ousted in an October 2021 coup and he contends the current configuration is not to be trusted. This week, U.N. Sudan envoy Volker Perthes called on the rival military factions to fully adhere to the agreed upon cease-fire. He said Sudan military commander Gen. Abdel Fattah al Burhan and Rapid Support Forces leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo appear to be “closer to negotiations" than they have been,” though Burhan informed the media he "would not sit down at the same table as the leader of the 'rebellion.’” Both military factions have defended their stance. Sudan's military maintains the deployment of RSF troops in parts of the country are unlawful. In a statement Saturday, Dagalo said the RSF remains committed to a cease-fire and is working to open corridors for Sudanese residents and non-residents. Citizens complained on social media, though, that Dagalo's Rapid Support Forces had raided their homes and stolen money, gold and other possessions. VOA could not independently confirm the claims.  More than 500 people have been killed and upwards of 4,000 have been wounded, according to the United Nations, in the conflict between Sudan's military and the country's paramilitary force that is entering its third week.

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