Sudan’s de facto ruler, Army Chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, has announced that the government will not join peace talks in Switzerland, vowing to fight for as long as necessary to defeat the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The United States, along with Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates as mediators, had been working towards achieving a lasting ceasefire to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Sudan. However, the talks were hindered by the absence of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), led by Burhan, who chose not to attend in person but remained in contact with the mediators.
The conflict between the Sudanese army and the RSF, led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, has caused massive displacement, famine, and disease in the country. Over 25 million people are facing acute hunger, and more than 10 million have been displaced. Last week, the parties agreed to improve humanitarian aid access through different routes.
Despite efforts from the international community to facilitate a ceasefire, progress has been slow due to the ongoing conflict between the two factions. Tom Perriello, the US Sudan envoy, expressed hope for momentum towards peace but acknowledged that more work needs to be done. However, international pressure and consequences for non-compliance may be necessary to push the conflicting parties towards meaningful agreements.
Cameron Hudson, an expert on Sudanese affairs, highlighted the need for real pressure to be put on the parties involved to ensure compliance with peace agreements. Without significant consequences, the conflicting parties may not have the motivation to prioritize peace and humanitarian concerns.
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