The Jeddah Declaration, adopted by the Sudanese army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) early Friday, stressed joint commitment to protecting Sudanese civilians.
This came in recognition of the necessity of uplifting the plight and misery from people resulting from the ongoing fighting since April 15, 2023, in particular in the capital of Khartoum, responding to urgent humanitarian needs of civilian citizens.
Representatives of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) reaffirmed their core obligations under International Humanitarian Law to facilitate humanitarian action to meet the needs of civilians, according to the declaration.
They stressed unwavering commitment to the sovereignty of Sudan and to maintaining its unity and territorial integrity.
Recognizing that commitment to the Declaration of Commitment will not affect any legal, security, or political status of the parties signing it, nor will it be linked to participation in any political process, it said.
They welcomed the efforts exerted by Sudan’s friends who can use their relationships and good offices to ensure respect for International Humanitarian Law and for international human rights law, including by committing to this Declaration and immediately implementing it.
None of the points listed displace any obligations or principles under International Humanitarian Law and/or international human rights law that apply in this armed conflict, in particular the Protocol Additional (II) of 1977 to the Geneva Conventions of 1949, and that all parties must meet, said the document.
Furthermore, the interests and well-being of the Sudanese people are top priority and affirm commitment to ensure that civilians are protected at all times. This includes allowing safe passage for civilians to leave areas of active hostilities on a voluntary basis, in the direction they choose, it said.
They affirmed responsibility to respect International Humanitarian Law and international human rights law, including obligations to distinguish between civilians and combatants, refrain from any attack that may be expected to cause incidental civilian harm, take all feasible precautions to avoid and minimize civilian harm, with an aim to vacate urban centers, including civilian houses, it added.
They also committed to ensuring that checkpoints are not used to infringe upon the principle of the freedom of movement for civilians and humanitarian actors, allowing all civilians to voluntarily and safely leave areas of hostilities and any besieged areas, and safeguarding the needs and necessities indispensable to the survival of the civilian population, it noted.
Both sides, further, recognized that humanitarian activities solely aim to alleviate human suffering and protect the lives and dignity of persons who are not or are no longer fighting, while agreeing on the need to allow principal humanitarian operations to resume and to protect humanitarian personnel and assets.
This included respecting the fundamental humanitarian principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality, and operational independence, allowing and facilitating the rapid and unimpeded passage of humanitarian relief, including medical and surgical equipment, and ensuring relief personnel the freedom of movement required for their functions.
They also committed to facilitating the safe, rapid and unimpeded passage of humanitarian personnel through all available routes, and refraining from interference with principal humanitarian operations and never accompany side by side humanitarian personnel carrying out humanitarian activities, in conformity with the Amended Directives and Procedures for Humanitarian Action in Sudan.
Moreover, they vowed to exert all efforts to ensure that these commitments – and all obligations of International Humanitarian Law – are fully disseminated within their ranks and appoint focal points to engage with humanitarian actors to facilitate their activities.
Saudi Arabia and the US announced early Friday that representatives of the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces had signed a declaration of commitment to protect Sudanese civilians.
Source: Kuwait News Agency