Sudanese gov't says open to settling armed conflict, ensuring aid delivery

PORT SUDAN, Sudan - The Sudanese government on Monday said that it is open to finding a settlement to the armed conflict in the country and ensuring the delivery of humanitarian aid to the conflict-affected population.

"The Sudanese government is open to all solutions to end and settle the conflict, and it is also open to delivering humanitarian aid, but the government will not accept this to be exploited to deliver weapons to the rebels instead of delivering food," Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, chairman of Sudan's Sovereignty Council and general commander of the Sudanese Armed Forces, told visiting US Special Envoy for Sudan Tom Perriello here during a meeting, according to Sudan's Ambassador to the United States Mohamed Abdullah.

Al-Burhan told Perriello that the Sudanese government does not agree for the Adre border crossing with Chad to be exploited in delivering weapons to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), Abdullah said.

On Nov 13, the Sudanese government decided to extend the opening of the Adre border crossing for three months to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to the war-affected population in the country.

"The two sides discussed the roadmap and how to stop the war and deliver humanitarian aid, besides the political process as a final solution," Abdullah said.

Following the meeting, Perriello told reporters that the US would continue to work with the Sudanese authorities to help expand the number of Sudanese people who have access to food, water, and medicine.

Sudan has been engulfed in a devastating conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF since mid-April 2023. The deadly conflict has resulted in over 24,850 deaths and displaced more than 14 million people, according to estimates by international organizations.