A new round of talks aimed at ending a 16-month civil war in Sudan has begun in Switzerland, despite the absence of the army leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. This reversal dampened hopes of a breakthrough with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) led by Mohamed Hamdan “Hemedti” Dagalo. The conflict, which began in April last year, has resulted in a humanitarian crisis in Sudan.
The talks, led by the United States, have started without the Sudanese army’s participation, as al-Burhan has been defiant following a recent drone attack on a military celebration. He has called for the withdrawal of all RSF fighters from civilian areas as a condition for ending military operations. The RSF denies committing abuses against civilians, despite ongoing bombardment of cities and heavy fighting.
Representatives from various international organizations, including Egypt, the United Nations, and the African Union, are attending the negotiations in Switzerland. The UAE, accused of providing military support to the RSF, has also sent representatives. The conflict, which has killed tens of thousands and internally displaced over 10 million people, has reached a critical point as UN officials warn of preventable deaths from hunger, disease, floods, and violence if the fighting does not stop.
The conflict began over tensions between al-Burhan and Hemedti after the 2021 toppling of President Omar al-Bashir, and has escalated into full-scale war, with both sides accused of committing abuses. The UN has described the situation in Sudan as a “cataclysmic breaking point” and called for an urgent resolution to end the suffering of millions of people.
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