John AdoyiLeaders of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), one of the warring factions in the ongoing Sudan conflict, have welcomed the United States’ effort to mediate cease-fire talks as the conflict enters 16th month.
RSF leader, Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, announced on Wednesday, that the paramilitary group will participate in the discussions.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelBuilding on the earlier failed Jeddah mediations, jointly facilitated with Saudi Arabia, the United States announced on Tuesday that it is inviting the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF to participate in ceasefire talks set to begin on August 14, 2024, in Switzerland. The talks aim to address the urgent humanitarian crisis, which has left millions on the brink of starvation and displaced nearly 10 million people.
“The talks in Switzerland aim to reach a nationwide cessation of violence, enabling humanitarian access to all those in need, and develop a robust monitoring and verification mechanism to ensure implementation of any agreement,” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement on Tuesday. The discussions will include the African Union, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and the United Nations as observers.
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Writing on X, formerly known as Twitter, General Dagalo said, “I welcome the invitation announced by the U.S. Secretary of State, and I declare our participation in the upcoming ceasefire talks on August 14, 2024, in Switzerland. I appreciate the efforts exerted by the United States, Saudi Arabia, and Switzerland in organizing these crucial talks.”
Dagalo added, “We share with the international community the goal of achieving a comprehensive ceasefire across the country, facilitating humanitarian access to all those in need, and developing a robust monitoring and verification mechanism to ensure the implementation of any agreement reached.”
The conflict in Sudan, which began in April 2023 due to a power struggle between Dagalo and the leader of the Sudanese army, Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, has led to thousands of deaths and the displacement of nearly 10 million people. The United Nations reported on Tuesday that about 26 million Sudanese are starving due to the effects of the conflict.
Several attempts have been made to call for a permanent cease-fire, including the Jeddah mediation in Saudi Arabia, which did not yield results. Other countries, such as Egypt, Ethiopia, and the United Nations, have also attempted but failed to get the warring parties to accept a truce.
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Dagalo expressed readiness for a peaceful resolution to the crisis so that Sudan can return to stability. “We are ready to engage in these talks constructively and look forward to them being a significant step towards peace, stability, and the establishment of a new Sudanese state based on justice, equality, and federal governance.”
As of the time of filing this report, the Sudanese army, led by General Al-Burhan, has yet to accept the invitation to the talks.
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