The Sudanese government has conditionally accepted an invitation to participate in Washington-mediated peace negotiations scheduled to take place in Geneva in mid-August. The decision was announced on Tuesday by the country’s Foreign Ministry.
In its statement, the government reaffirmed its readiness to engage in negotiations, expressing a commitment to “preserve the blood of the Sudanese” and to cooperate with any parties working towards this goal. However, it stipulated that any discussions before the implementation of the Jeddah Declaration of Commitment to Protect the Civilians of Sudan—an agreement requiring a comprehensive withdrawal and cessation of expansion by both warring factions—would be “unacceptable to the Sudanese people.”
The conflict in Sudan, which began in April 2023 between the government-aligned army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has resulted in a tragic loss of at least 16,650 lives, according to UN figures. Additionally, around 10.7 million people are internally displaced within Sudan, with approximately 2.2 million others having sought refuge in neighbouring countries.
Since May 6, 2023, Saudi Arabia and the United States have been facilitating negotiations in Jeddah between the two conflicting sides. Multiple truces have been attempted, with several breaches, including the Jeddah Declaration signed on May 11, 2023. Both parties have accused each other of violating these agreements.
The RSF confirmed its acceptance of the Geneva talks invitation on July 23. The upcoming negotiations in Geneva aim to address the ongoing crisis and seek a resolution to the conflict that has devastated Sudan.
