“US-Led Ceasefire Talks for Sudan Begin in Switzerland Amid Government Absence”

Switzerland is hosting US-mediated discussions to establish a ceasefire in Sudan despite the Sudanese government’s absence from the meeting.

Since April 2023, Sudan has been engulfed in conflict between the nation’s military, led by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), under Mohamed Hamdan Daglo. The initiative for talks is led by Tom Perriello, the US’s special envoy to Sudan, who remarked at the outset, “It was high time for the guns to be silenced.”

These negotiations, expected to run for as long as 10 days, are taking place out of the public eye in Switzerland. While the RSF is participating, the Sudanese armed forces (SAF) have expressed dissatisfaction with the meeting’s format determined by the US. Tom Perriello emphasized the anticipation from the US team, international community, and Sudanese civil society for the SAF’s involvement, stating, “The world is watching,” and encouraged the government to grab this chance.

The dialogue is a joint effort by Saudi Arabia and Switzerland, backstopped by a group including the African Union, Egypt, the UAE, and the UN. While the SAF remains reluctant due to the UAE being requested to join by the US—a nation the Sudanese army accuses of supporting the RSF—the agenda continues, focusing on ceasing hostilities and improving humanitarian access, as outlined by Perriello.

The ongoing violence in Sudan has resulted in significant humanitarian disasters, displacing 20% of the population, causing tens of thousands of deaths, and leaving over half the country facing severe food shortages. Doctors Without Borders highlighted both sides’ interference with humanitarian aid, stressing that aid should not wait to end hostilities.

Internal divisions within Burhan’s ranks about negotiation are apparent, but with key international actors involved in the talks, the pressure mounts on him, according to International Crisis Group’s Alan Boswell. However, previous efforts, such as those in Jeddah, have failed to end the conflict. Cameron Hudson from the Center for Strategic and International Studies notes Washington’s attempt to propel talks forward through projected momentum but indicates that substantial pressure might be necessary to bring the army to the negotiating table.

Amid continuous combat, human rights abuses have been reported, including attacks on civilians. Activists and demonstrators urgently call for peace and negotiations to halt the war.