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A member of the Sudanese Armed forces walks between damaged buildings, almost one year into the war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), in Omdurman, Sudan, April 7, 2024.
US leads effort for cease-fire in Sudan
The US is spearheading a new effort for a cease-fire in Sudan, inviting both sides in the civil war to talks in Switzerland set to begin on Aug. 14.
“The scale of death, suffering, and destruction in Sudan is devastating. This senseless conflict must end,” Secretary of State Antony Blinkensaid this week. “We urge the parties to stop the fighting for the sake of a brighter future for Sudan.”
The 15-month-old war between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces, or RSF, militia has had a devastating impact on civilians, forcing over 10 million people from their homes and sparking a major humanitarian crisis. Civilians in Sudan are facing "indiscriminate and widespread" violence, according to a recent report from Doctors Without Borders.
Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, chief of the RSF, agreed to attend the talks in Switzerland. But we’ll be watching to see whether the Sudanese army, which hasn’t responded to the invitation yet, also turns up.
US embassy and navy officials help evacuees from Sudan disembark in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia to host Sudan peace talks — if they can get there
Amid a shaky ceasefire, Sudan’s warring generals have agreed to pursue negotiations in Saudi Arabia.
Direct talks, if they take place, would focus on creating a “stable and reliable” cease-fire overseen by international organizations. But organizers face a major logistical obstacle: Both sides need safe passage through each other’s territory to get to Saudi Arabia.
The urgent need for negotiations cannot be overstated. Since fighting broke out three weeks ago, 20,000 Sudanese have fled to neighboring Chad, foreign governments have scrambled to evacuate their citizens and embassies, and former PM Abdalla Hamdok has warned of a looming humanitarian crisis that could rival Syria and Libya.
As of late last week, more than 500 people had already been killed and 4,100 wounded, but these numbers could be much higher. Fierce fighting continued even amid a string of temporary truces over the weekend.
Humanitarian groups need a cease-fire in order to get more vital aid to civilians, but a lack of trust could stop the generals from ever reaching Saudi Arabia.