Consultations between Sudan’s military-led government and U.S. officials in Jeddah have ended without a consensus on Sudan’s participation in the upcoming peace talks in Geneva.
This outcome has cast doubt over the negotiations, set to commence in three days.
The Sudanese delegation, headed by Minister of Minerals Mohamed Bashir Abu Nommo, sought assurances that the talks would focus on implementing the Jeddah Agreement, signed in May, and that the government would be represented by all its components, not just the military.
However, the U.S. delegation, led by Special Envoy Tom Berriello, reportedly emphasized that the Geneva talks would primarily focus on military matters, including achieving a ceasefire and facilitating humanitarian aid.
The U.S. side also clarified that the invitation was specifically directed at the military leadership of both General al-Burhan’s Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
This divergence in priorities led to a breakdown in the Jeddah consultations, with the Sudanese delegation returning to Port Sudan on Sunday.
The failure to reach an agreement in Jeddah has raised concerns about the prospects for the Geneva talks, scheduled to begin on August 14th.