Sudan's paramilitary leader has announced plans to attend cease-fire talks in Switzerland next month arranged by the United States and Saudi Arabia. Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, head of the Rapid Support Forces fighting Sudan’s army, expressed hope on social media late Tuesday that 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.
The talks are expected to begin on August 14 at an as-yet unspecified location in Switzerland. The U.S. State Department said the talks will aim to build on discussions between the two sides that broke down late last year in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The African Union, Sudan's neighbor Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Nations will act as observers during the talks. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized that the goal of the talks is to achieve a nationwide cessation of violence, enable humanitarian access to all those in need, and develop a monitoring and verification mechanism to ensure implementation of any agreement.
The conflict in Sudan began in mid-April 2023 when tensions between military and paramilitary leaders erupted in Khartoum and spread to other regions, including Darfur. The United Nations reports that over 14,000 people have been killed and 33,000 injured, with rights activists suggesting the toll could be higher.
The war has led to the displacement of over 11 million people, allegations of sexual violence, and possible crimes against humanity. International experts have warned of a looming famine affecting 755,000 people in the coming months.
Switzerland will co-host the talks and has expressed support for efforts to resolve the conflict through negotiation. Last week, the U.N. secretary-general's envoy for Sudan facilitated indirect talks in Geneva focusing on humanitarian aid and the protection of civilians across the country.
