Sudan's warring parties have convened in Geneva at the invitation of the United Nations to discuss the protection of civilians through potential local cease-fires, according to U.N. officials. However, one of the sides did not attend the talks on the first day.
Senior representatives from the Sudanese army and rival paramilitary Rapid Support Forces accepted invitations to meet separately with the U.N. secretary-general's personal envoy. The U.N. spokesperson revealed that one of the delegations did not show up for the scheduled session, but did not specify which side it was.
The conflict in Sudan erupted in mid-April 2023, stemming from long-standing tensions between the military and paramilitary leaders in Khartoum, which subsequently spread to other regions, including Darfur. The United Nations reports a death toll of over 14,000 people and 33,000 injured, with rights activists suggesting the actual figures could be higher.
The war has triggered a massive displacement crisis, with more than 11 million individuals forced to flee their homes. Additionally, there have been reports of widespread sexual violence, potential crimes against humanity, and warnings from international experts of an impending famine affecting 755,000 people in the near future.
Prior talks between the Sudanese military and the Rapid Support Forces in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, collapsed at the end of the previous year. Despite numerous unsuccessful attempts to restart negotiations, the United Nations refrained from publicizing the recent meeting to manage expectations and allow space for progress.
The discussions in Geneva aim to explore avenues for advancing humanitarian efforts and protecting civilians through potential local ceasefires, as requested by the Security Council. The U.N. spokesperson emphasized the importance of constructive engagement from both Sudanese delegations for the benefit of the Sudanese population.
