The US-mediated Sudan ceasefire talks are set to commence in Switzerland on Wednesday, August 14th, 2024, despite the notable absence of the Sudanese government.
The conflict, which erupted in April 2023, has pitted the Sudanese army, led by de facto ruler Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), commanded by his former deputy Mohamed Hamdan Daglo.
While the RSF delegation has arrived in Switzerland for the discussions, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) have yet to accept the invitation. The talks, expected to last up to ten days, are being co-hosted by Saudi Arabia and Switzerland, with the African Union, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Nations participating as observers.
Tom Perriello, the US Special Envoy for Sudan, emphasized the urgency of proceeding with the talks, stating, "The time for peace is now." He added, "Thus far, SAF has not agreed to participate. Yet we will proceed with our international and technical partners to explore every option to support the people of Sudan."
The ongoing conflict has precipitated one of the world's most severe humanitarian crises, displacing one in five Sudanese from their homes and resulting in tens of thousands of deaths. More than 25 million people, over half of Sudan's population, are facing acute hunger.
Perriello underlined the critical need for progress, noting, "There is a deep sense of urgency to make progress this week towards a cessation of hostilities and expanded humanitarian access." He urged the Sudanese government to "seize the opportunity" for peace.
Despite previous rounds of talks in Jeddah yielding no results, the current negotiations mark a significant effort, with all major external actors—Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Egypt—present.
Alan Boswell, the Horn of Africa project director at the International Crisis Group, remarked, "Restarting the talks at all would be a breakthrough, given that there have not been formal talks since last year."
However, internal divisions within Burhan's camp pose a challenge, with some factions supporting the talks and others vehemently opposing them.
Sudan's Media Minister Graham Abdelkader stated that more discussions were needed before joining the negotiations and rejected "any new observers or participants," particularly after Washington insisted on the UAE's participation as an observer.
The stakes are high, as Sudan endures the world's largest displacement crisis, with over 10.7 million internally displaced and around 2.3 million having fled abroad.
Mohamed Refaat, the UN migration agency's Sudan mission chief, poignantly described the dire situation: "What was once a land of rich culture, history, and hope has become a battlefield of despair, where millions of families are trapped in a living nightmare."
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