First day of Sudan peace talks concludes with army absent, RSF presence unclear

Over a year into a conflict that has caused the world’s worst displacement crisis, US-led peace talks for the war in Sudan showed little promise, with the Sudanese army failing to send representatives and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces refusing to confirm its own delegates’ attendance.

France NEWS, Issued on: 15/08/2024 – 04:17

By:NEWS WIRES

The first day of US-led peace talks aimed at finding a solution to Sudan’s brutal conflict concluded Wednesday in Geneva with the country’s military absent and the other warring party’s participation unclear.

The talks come as the war-wrecked country faces one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. The country’s military did not send representatives and it did not appear that delegates from the other warring party, the Rapid Support Forces, attended Wednesday’s session. Diplomats from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, The United Arab Emirates, the Africa Union and the United Nations were at the talks.

The northeastern African nation plunged into chaos in April last year when tensions between the military and the RSF turned into open fighting in the capital, Khartoum, before spreading across the country.

“We are hard at work in Switzerland on the first day of intensive diplomatic efforts for Sudan to support humanitarian access, cessation of hostilities,” a joint statement on behalf of the United States, Switzerland, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, the African Union, and the United Nations read. 

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The statement was posted on X by US Special Envoy for Sudan Tom Perriello, along with photos of the day’s discussions. No RSF representatives appeared in the photos, but the RSF said Tuesday that the paramilitary force’s delegation had arrived in Switzerland.

A spokesman for the RSF declined to comment on the talks or the presence of the group’s delegation at Wednesday’s session.