Bilateral actors timeline of diplomatic efforts

15 April

Egypt and Saudi Arabia called for an emergency meeting at the level of permanent representatives at the Arab League to discuss the situation in Sudan.

16 April

Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry held phone call with the Chairperson of AU Commission to discuss developments in Sudan and provide update to the Chairperson on the emergency meeting of the Arab League that was convened earlier on the same day.

18 April

US Secretary of State spoke to the leaders of both SAF and RSF and underscored the urgent need for a ceasefire.

21 April

US Secretary of State welcomed the announcement made by SAF and RSF on the intention to abide by a three-day Eid al-Fitr ceasefire.

22 April

South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit held telephone conversation with SAF and RSF leaders and expressed readiness of the High-Level IGAD delegation to undertake a mission to Sudan at the earliest opportunity available.

24 April

US brokered a three-day nationwide ceasefire between the two forces effective as of midnight 24 April.

28 April

Ethiopian Prime Minister held phone conversation with the two leadership of SAF and RSF on the need to settle their differences amicably.

2 May

South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit announced that the leaders of SAF and RSF agreed ‘in principle’ for a seven-day truce from 4 May to 11 May, as well as to name their representatives to peace talks.

4 May

President of the USA issued an executive order on imposing sanctions on certain persons destabilizing Sudan and undermining the goal of democratic transition.

 Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry held phone calls with SAF and RSF leaders, calling for immediate ceasefire.

5 May

President Salva kiir

  • expressed his concerns over ‘numerous instances of violations of the ceasefire he brokered
  • Requested the two parties to send their representatives to an ‘agreed venue’ to commence the peace talks

6 May

Saudi Arabia and the US facilitated direct ‘pre-negotiation talks’ between the representatives of SAF and RSF in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

The Somali Federal Government ‘warmly welcomed’ the start of talks between SAF and RSF in Jeddah.

8 May

The South African government:

  • welcomed the start of the pre-negotiation talks between the SAF and RSF
  • reiterated the ‘centrality of the African Union and IGAD in the pre-negotiation and subsequent talks’
  • stressed the importance of a civilian government for Sudan and the wider region
 Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry met Chadian transitional President, Mahamat Idriss Deby, to discuss ways of ending the fighting in Sudan.

9 May

Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry met South Sudan’s President and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation to discuss the consequences of the Sudan conflict on both countries and coordinate efforts to end the conflict.

11 May

The pre-negotiation talks facilitated by Saudi Arabia and the US culminated in the signing of  a declaration of commitment to Protect Civilians of Sudan between SAF and RSF in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

12 May

Egypt welcomed the signing of Jeddah Declaration of Commitment to Protect the Civilians of Sudan.

15 May

South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir dispatched special envoy to brief the leaders of Egypt, Kenya, Uganda, Djibouti, and Ethiopia on the ongoing diplomatic efforts and explore next steps.

20 May

Saudi Arabia and US facilitated the signing of a seven-day Agreement on a Short-Term Ceasefire and Humanitarian Arrangements between SAF and RSF in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

23 May

The facilitators of the Jeddah ceasefire agreement (Saudi Arabia and the US) noted with concern the violations of the agreement by both sides.

26 May

Saudi Arabia and the US noted improved respect for the ceasefire agreement following serious violations of 24 May.

28 May

Saudi Arabia and the US urged the warring parties to extend the ceasefire, noting that the 20 May ceasefire was ‘imperfectly observed’.

29 May

Saudi Arabia and the US facilitated the signing of an agreement for a five-day extension to the 20 May Agreement between SAF and RSF in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

1 June

Saudi Arabia and the US announced a suspension of the Jeddah talks citing the ‘repeated serious violations’ of the 20 May short-term ceasefire and  the extension to the ceasefire by the warring parties.

The US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned military-affiliated companies ‘fuelling both sides of the conflict in Sudan’.

US also announced economic sanctions and visa restrictions against actors perpetuating the violence, and released an updated Business Advisory on Sudan.

9 June

Saudi Arabia and the US announced that the representatives of SAF and RSF agreed to a 24-hour countrywide ceasefire beginning on 10 June. The facilitators threatened to adjourn the Jeddah Talks if the warring parties fail to observe the ceasefire.

11 June

Noting the reduced fighting during the ceasefire, Saudi Arabia and the US expressed readiness to reconvene formal Talks in Jeddah on condition that the warring parties show commitment to uphold their obligations under the Jeddah Declaration to Protect the Civilians of Sudan.

17 June

Saudi Arabia and the US brokered a new 72-hour ceasefire between SAF and RSF, effective starting from 18 June until 21 June. Like in the previous ceasefire, the facilitators threatened to adjourn the Jeddah Talks if the parties fail to observe the ceasefire.