This week, Sudan’s RSF agrees to ceasefire after violence against Sudan’s civilians worsens. FIFA’s new peace prize. Pakistan-Afghanistan peace talks on again.
Sudan’s RSF Agrees to Ceasefire After Violence Against Sudan’s Civilians Worsens
Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group finally said on November 6 that it agreed to a “humanitarian ceasefire” after violence against civilians has continued to worsen.
This development comes two and a half years after Sudan’s civil war began in April 2023. Troops from the RSF, which has been accused of committing a genocide, have posted videos of civilians in El Fasher being shot, including in a maternity hospital.
On November 5, Amnesty International released a statement declaring that 260,000 people were “trapped with nowhere to run,” as the RSF carried out brutal violence. The statement urged that “we must keep our eyes on Sudan.”
Several international human rights organizations and officials have spoken out against the violence. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterrres said Sudan’s war is spiralling out of control, and called on the warring parties to “come to the negotiating table, bring an end to this nightmare of violence – now.”
The ceasefire will be a three-month truce across Sudan, according to officials involved. However, The Guardian reports that some may view the ceasefire as the RSF’s attempt to deflect from the El Fasher allegations.
On October 24, the United States, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and United Arab Emirates have united to form a Joint Operational Committee or ‘quad’ on Sudan. The committee’s statement describes a roadmap including: an initial three-month humanitarian truce to allow for rapid aid delivery, followed by a permanent ceasefire, and concluding with a nine-month transitional period leading to “an independent, civilian-led government with broad-based legitimacy and accountability.”
FIFA’s New Peace Prize
FIFA this week announced its new ‘FIFA Peace Prize,’ which it said will “recognize exceptional actions for peace.” FIFA President Gianni Infantino said that due to the instability in the world, “it’s fundamental to recognize the outstanding contribution of those who work hard to end conflicts and bring people together in a spirit of peace.”
Infantino said he will award the first Fifa Peace Prize at the World Cup draw in Washington DC on December 5.
Pakistan-Afghanistan Peace Talks on Again
Pakistan’s state-run media reported that Pakistan and Afghanistan resumed peace talks in Istabnul, Turkey, on November 6, following nearly a month of conflict which intensified on October 9. The fighting has killed dozens of people including soldiers, civilians, and expected militants, ABC reports.
Authorities say the talks will continue on November 7, however, neither country’s officials have commented on the talks. This development comes after talks hit a wall last week, with each country’s state media blaming the other for the failure to reach a deal.
The conflict between the two countries intensified when Pakistan carried out airstrikes on Kabul on October 9. Pakistan says that Pakistani Taliban militants who have increased attacks on Pakistan operate from Afghanistan. Pakistan was a major supporter of the Afghan Taliban in 2001 following the US invasion of Afghanistan. However, relations soured after Pakistan accused the Afghan Taliban of harboring the Pakistani Taliban, which has launched an insurgency against Pakistan’s government.
Keywords: Sudan, FIFA, FIFA Peace Prize, Pakistan, Afghanistan, conflict, conflict resolution, peace
Tara Abhasakun
Tara Abhasakun is Peace News Network (PNN)'s managing editor. She is journalist based in Christchurch, New Zealand, and formerly in Bangkok, Thailand. She has reported on a range of human rights issues involving youth protests in Thailand, as well as arts and culture. Tara's work has appeared in several outlets, including Al Jazeera and South China Morning Post.
