A week of indirect talks involving Sudan’s warring parties concluded in Geneva on Friday, according to the U.N. secretary-general’s personal envoy, Ramtane Lamamra. He described the discussions as an “encouraging initial step” in a complex process.
Representatives from General al-Burhan’s Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the rival Rapid Support Forces (RSF) met separately with Lamamra, who initiated the talks on July 11. Initially, only the RSF attended the talks on Thursday, with al-Burhan’s delegation arriving the following day, according to the United Nations. Lamamra’s team conducted approximately 20 sessions with the delegations.
Sudan plunged into conflict in mid-April 2023, when longstanding tensions between military leaders erupted in Khartoum and spread to other regions, including Darfur. The U.N. reports over 14,000 deaths and 33,000 injuries, though rights activists believe the numbers could be much higher. The conflict has led to the world’s largest displacement crisis, with over 11 million people forced to flee their homes. International experts have recently warned that 755,000 people could face famine in the coming months.
The Geneva discussions focused on ensuring the distribution of humanitarian aid and protecting civilians across Sudan. Lamamra expressed optimism about the willingness of the parties to engage on these critical issues and noted commitments made to address specific requests, though he did not provide details.
“The discussions held in Geneva are an encouraging initial step in a longer and complex process,” Lamamra stated.