General Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, leader of Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces, announced on social media on Tuesday his intention to attend ceasefire talks in Switzerland next month.
These talks, organized by the United States and Saudi Arabia, aim to end 15 months of intense fighting between the paramilitary group and the army.
The US State Department stated that the talks will build upon previous discussions held last year in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, which had stalled.
“We continue to believe there is no military solution to the conflict in Sudan. And that convening these national ceasefire talks, and making clear that they are backed by key international stakeholders, is the only way to put to end the conflict in Sudan,” said US State Department spokesperson, Matthew Miller.
I welcome the invitation announced by Mr. @SecBlinken, the U.S. Secretary of State, and I declare our participation in the upcoming ceasefire talks on August 14, 2024, in Switzerland. I appreciate the efforts exerted by the United States, Saudi Arabia, and Switzerland in…
— Mohamed Hamdan Daglo (@GeneralDagllo) July 23, 2024He said this was essential to prevent the famine that exists in Sudan from spreading and to create space to restore the civilian political process.
In a post on X, Dagalo said he hoped the talks would become “a major step” toward peace and stability in Sudan and create a new state based on “justice, equality, and federal rule.”
“We share with the international community the goal of achieving a full ceasefire across the country and facilitating humanitarian access to everyone in need,” he said.
However, it remains uncertain if the army, led by General Abdel-Fattah Burhan, will participate in the talks.
Officials from the Sudanese army’s spokesperson’s office told the Associated Press that no decision has been made regarding sending a delegation.
The talks are scheduled to begin on August 14 at an unspecified location in Switzerland.
The United Nations reports that over 14,000 people have been killed and 33,000 injured in the conflict, though rights activists believe the actual numbers could be much higher.
The fighting has resulted in the world’s largest displacement crisis, with over 11 million people forced to flee their homes, and has led to widespread allegations of sexual violence and possible crimes against humanity.
International experts recently warned that 755,000 people could face famine in the coming months.
Last week, the UN secretary-general’s envoy for Sudan facilitated a series of indirect talks in Geneva between the two sides, focusing on humanitarian aid and the protection of civilians.
