Negotiations aimed at resolving Sudan’s devastating 16-month-long civil war began on Wednesday in Switzerland, but the absence of General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan’s Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) has dampened hopes for a swift resolution to the country’s escalating humanitarian crisis.
U.N. officials have raised alarms about the dire situation in Sudan, warning that the nation is on the verge of a catastrophic humanitarian disaster. Tens of thousands of preventable deaths from hunger, disease, floods, and violence are anticipated in the coming months unless there is a substantial increase in global aid.
The Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which currently control significant portions of Sudan, have sent a delegation to the talks.
However, the absence of the SAF, a pivotal player in the conflict, is expected to hinder direct mediation efforts. U.S. Special Envoy Tom Perriello, a key organizer of the negotiations, acknowledged that achieving meaningful progress will be challenging without SAF’s participation.
The talks involve representatives from Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, the United Nations, the African Union, the East African bloc IGAD, and various experts. They are focused on drafting plans to end the violence and ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid.
General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, leader of the SAF, stated on Tuesday that military operations would only cease if the RSF fighters completely withdraw from the cities and villages they have seized.
In response, the RSF leadership has denied allegations of attacks on civilians and looting, expressing a willingness to engage in peace talks provided the army participates.
The SAF has justified its absence from the talks by citing the failure to implement previous commitments, brokered by the U.S. and Saudi Arabia, to withdraw combatants from civilian areas and facilitate the distribution of aid.
Mediators have noted that the SAF has largely ignored these agreements.
“We are focused on ensuring parties comply with their Jeddah commitments and on their implementation,” Perriello stated on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday. The current talks also aim to establish a mechanism to enforce any agreements reached.
The rainy season has exacerbated the crisis, causing widespread damage to homes and shelters and increasing the risk of waterborne diseases. The Sudanese health ministry reported 268 new cases of cholera in the past week alone.
Humanitarian aid deliveries to RSF-controlled areas have been significantly delayed due to obstructions by the army-aligned government in Port Sudan, as well as frequent incidents of robbery and looting, according to witnesses.
The conflict, which erupted in April 2023, was triggered by disputes over the integration of SAF and RSF as part of a planned transition from military rule to democratic elections. The war has resulted in what is now considered the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, with half of Sudan’s 50 million people facing severe food shortages and famine affecting parts of North Darfur.