Sudan army, rival force agree to extend truce after mediators show impatience with breaches

Sudan’s warring sides have agreed to extend a shaky cease-fire in their battle for control of the country, after two key international mediators signaled impatience with persistent truce violations. The five-day extension of the cease-fire between Sudan’s military and its rival, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, was announced in a joint statement late Monday by Saudi Arabia and the United States. The extension comes after Riyadh and Washington called out the warring sides for specific breaches of a week-long truce. The specific statement came in place of yet another general appeal to both sides to respect agreements. Since fighting erupted April 15, there have been seven declared cease-fires, all of which have been violated to some extent.