US envoy Tom Perriello has announced that talks to end Sudan’s 15-month war will begin in Geneva this week, even if Sudan’s army does not attend. The conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces has resulted in a “humanitarian disaster” according to the International Committee of the Red Cross President.
While the RSF has agreed to participate in the talks, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, leader of Sudan’s army, has stated that the military will not join. The US has invited Sudan’s warring sides to hold ceasefire talks in Switzerland, with the goal of implementing the Jeddah agreement signed between the army and the RSF last year. The talks will launch in Geneva on Wednesday, with hopes of solid humanitarian steps being taken to remove obstacles blocking a ceasefire.
The UN migration agency has warned that Sudan is at a catastrophic “breaking point”, with tens of thousands of preventable deaths looming due to multiple crises such as famine and floods. The conflict has already left tens of thousands dead and led to over 10.7 million people being internally displaced within Sudan, with millions fleeing to neighboring countries.
The IOM has called for an immediate, massive, and coordinated global response to the crisis in Sudan to prevent further loss of life. Without action, the situation is expected to worsen and more deaths are at risk. The talks in Geneva this week are seen as a crucial step in resolving the conflict and providing much-needed humanitarian assistance to those affected.
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