Saudi Arabia is set to host the first face-to-face talks between the warring armies in Sudan, after several ceasefires broke down.
A joint US-Saudi statement on Saturday welcomed the start of “pre-negotiation talks” in Jeddah between the Sudanese army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
The Sudanese army says the talks aim to address humanitarian issues.
The army confirmed it had sent envoys to Jeddah to engage in the talks, which the UN and aid agencies have been pressing for, faced with a dire humanitarian crisis in Sudan.
Nearly three weeks of heavy fighting have killed hundreds of people and displaced nearly 450,000 civilians. Of that total, the International Organization for Migration says that more than 115,000 have sought refuge in neighbouring countries.
Sudan’s army commander Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan – the de facto Sudanese president – is engaged in a bitter power struggle with RSF leader Gen Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, better known as Hemedti.
The statement from the US and Saudi governments urged both parties to take in consideration the interests of the Sudanese nation and its people and actively engage in the talks towards a ceasefire and end to the conflict, which will spare the Sudanese people’s suffering and ensure the availability of humanitarian aid to affected areas.
The joint statement also expressed hope for “an expanded negotiation process that should include engagement with all Sudanese parties.”
The intensity of the fighting has prevented much-needed aid deliveries from getting through.
So far, Gen Burhan and Hemedti, who led an Arab militia in the brutal Darfur conflict, have shown little readiness to reach a peace settlement.
