The Government of Sudan has reiterated the call for the implementation of a signed declaration between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) which was held in Jeddah, to bolster peace.
Dr Gebriel Ibrahim, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning of Sudan, made the call on Wednesday in Abuja, while briefing newsmen on the war situation in the country.
Ibrahim spoke in view of the 2024 African Caucus Meeting of Governors of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank Group (WBG) held between Aug. 1 and Aug. 3.
The Caucus was established in 1963 to strengthen Africa’s voice through Ministers of Finance and Governors of the Central Bank or officials designated as such by the governments of African countries.
The signed declaration between SAF and RSF seeks to guide the conduct of SAF and RSF to ease humanitarian assistance and restore essential services such as electricity and water, among other things.
The declaration was requested by the SAF and RSF during pre-negotiation talks mediated by the U.S. and Saudi Arabia to emphasise the agreement reached to help civilians suffering in the war.
Ibrahim said, “The U.S. recently proposed a meeting between the SAF and RSF in Switzerland in September, but they forgot we already held one in Jeddah and signed the declaration on May 11, 2023.
“So, we are telling them that instead of calling for new talks, why not implement the Jeddah Declaration signed by both RSF and SAF?
“Then, we can start talking about peace if that is what the U.S. wants to do; not to give the RSF legitimacy to be part of the political and military scene in the future.”
The minister decried the effect of the war which had lingered for more than 15 months, noting that it had hindered trade operations and other economic activities across the country.
“Although the war has lingered, the country still possesses an agricultural potential that could provide food security in Africa through adequate investment.”
According to him, Sudan’s agricultural potential is one of the biggest in Africa, as the country is the first food basket of the continent with a large population and hybrid of religion.
Ibrahim said, “We have to plan for our food security, and if Africa wants to boost its food production, it has to invest in Sudan, among other countries.
“Of course, Sudan has a comparative advantage in food production. Sudan is also rich in solid minerals as the country is strategically positioned on the Red Sea.
“All of us know that international trade now moves from East to West, even for Nigeria importing goods from China, it is faster and cost-effective to import goods from the Red Sea.
“So, we need infrastructure, roads and railways that make the connection between the conduit of the Red Sea and African countries possible and fast,” he said.
He recounted Sudan’s trade ties with Nigeria, saying that plans were on to further strengthen the cooperation between both countries.
Ibrahim decried Sudan’s political instability as having resulted in the displacement of no fewer than 10 million people in Khartoum.
“Some have to find refuge in Nigeria,” he added.
He further said that strategic measures had been taken to revive the economic base of the country to restore what was lost during the war.
