Sudan's warring factions early on Friday committed to protect civilians and the movement of humanitarian aid, but did not agree to a ceasefire and remain far apart, U.S. officials said.
After a week of talks in the Saudi port of Jeddah, Sudan's army and rival paramilitary Rapid Support Forces signed a declaration that they would work towards a short-term ceasefire in further discussions, they said.
A U.S. State Department statement said the parties would focus on reaching a deal for an effective ceasefire of up to about 10 days. The U.S. official said it would be a long process to move from a temporary ceasefire, once agreed, to a permanent cessation of hostilities. But Washington hopes the two sides' willingness to sign Friday's declaration will build momentum.
In public neither side has shown it is ready to offer concessions to end the conflict that erupted suddenly last month, threatening to pitch Sudan into a civil war, killing hundreds of people and triggering a humanitarian crisis.to navigate a terrifying landscape of chaos and bombardment with failing power and water, little food and a collapsing health system.
Many have fled Khartoum and Darfur, uprooting 700,000 people inside the country and sending 150,000 as refugees into neighbouring states, according to U.N. figures.
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