Sudanese anti-war leader appeals for Ramadan ceasefire

A Sudanese anti-war leader in the Civil Forces Alliance Tagadum has called for a ceasefire during Ramadan, which will begin on March 10, 2024, and urged collaborative efforts in ending the conflict in that country.

Yassir Arman, chair of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-Revolutionary Democratic Current (RDC), made the plea on Sunday, addressing Sudan Armed Forces head Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, who have been fighting since last April.

Expressing deep concern about the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Sudan, Arman highlighted the United Nation's warning of potential famine-like conditions for civilians in conflict zones by the Summer.

With nearly two-thirds of Sudan's population - approximately 30 million people - requiring urgent humanitarian assistance due to the devastating impact of the conflict, the need for immediate action is pressing.

Arman's appeal resonated with a desire for unity.

"Can we all, civilians and military personnel, hope to stop the war throughout the month of Ramadan and allow civilians freedom of movement and family reunification in the holy month, so that God's generosity and mercy extend to our people?"

The rest of his message on X, formerly Twitter, can be viewed here:

Ramadan is the Month of Repentance and Forgiveness
Let it be an Occasion to Stop the War

War has morals and values ​​from heaven and earth, and laws developed by humans from the war of Cain, Abel and the Crow, to tribal wars, medieval knights, and modern rules of war. The… pic.twitter.com/7qx8GPo7ha

— Yassir Arman (@Yassir__Arman) February 26, 2024

The call for a Ramadan ceasefire extends beyond Sudan, as Arman urged the Sudanese people, the international community, and UN agencies to join hands in amplifying the plea.

He specifically named the African Union Peace and Security Council, the UN Security Council, and the League of Arab States, emphasising the need for collaborative efforts.

Arman further appealed to neighboring countries, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates, to "exert efforts to stop the war during Ramadan and to provide and send humanitarian aid and to open international borders".

Following previous failed attempts by Saudi and US initiatives to halt the conflict and facilitate humanitarian access, Arman's plea echoes the urgency of the situation and the collective responsibility to bring about a much-needed ceasefire during the holy month.

Thus far, authorities loyal to the Sudanese army have blocked cross-border aid to the western Darfur region, a move decried by aid workers and the United States. The vast Darfur region, bordering Chad, has been one of the hardest-hit parts of Sudan since the war began 10 months ago.

The RSF are descendants of the Janjaweed militia which began a scorched earth campaign in Darfur more than two decades ago. In their current battle against the army, which started last April, they have taken over four out of the five Darfur state capitals.

More than 694,000 people have fled over the border to Chad, according to the International Organization for Migration, but many more remain trapped in Darfur and need of assistance.

The war has killed thousands, including up to 15,000 in the West Darfur city of El Geneina alone, according to UN experts.

Additional reporting by AFP