Riyadh: Saudi Arabia on Friday voiced its rejection of forming a “parallel government” in war-torn Sudan.
Saudi Arabia rejects “any illegitimate steps or measures taken outside the framework of the Republic of Sudan’s official institutions that may affect its unity and do not reflect the will of its people, including the call to form a parallel government,” the Saudi Foreign Ministry said in a statement posted on social media platform X.
“The kingdom reaffirms its firm stance in supporting the Republic of Sudan’s security, stability, and territorial integrity,” read the statement.
“Saudi Arabia calls on all Sudanese parties to prioritize the interests of Sudan over any factional interests and to work towards preventing division and chaos,” read the statement.
“The kingdom also reiterates its commitment to continuing all efforts to end the war in Sudan and achieve peace in line with the Jeddah Declaration signed on May 11, 2023,” it said.
Since April 2023, Sudan has been engulfed in a conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The violence has left over 29,600 dead and displaced more than 15 million people, according to the International Organization for Migration.
Since May 6, 2023, Saudi Arabia and the United States have been patronizing negotiations between the Sudanese warring parties in Jeddah. Several truces have been reached and breached since then, including the Jeddah Declaration of Commitment to Protect the Civilians of Sudan signed in 2023, with the two sides accusing each other of violating them.
On February 22, the RSF and its allied political and armed groups signed “a political charter” in Kenya expressing intention to form a “parallel government” in Sudan.
