Talks on Sudan ceasefire underway despite absence of army
Published: Friday, Aug 16th 2024, 11:40
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Talks on a ceasefire in Sudan are underway, according to US special envoy Tom Perriello - although one party to the conflict is still missing from the negotiations in Switzerland.
The mediators are in daily talks with "both sides in this war", Perriello said in an interview with the AFP news agency on Friday. The talks are being led by the USA.
Of the two parties to the conflict, only the RSF militia has so far taken part in the meetings on site in Switzerland, but not the Sudanese army. "We are working on the phone," explained Perriello on Friday. It would be easier to conduct the negotiations in person. "But we will not be held back by the refusal to appear," emphasized the US special envoy to Sudan, who is leading the talks.
In terms of humanitarian aid for the people of Sudan, there is already movement in the negotiations with the RSF militia. "We are seeing progress every day, which will allow more people to get more food and medicine," said Perriello. "But we have so much more to do - and it would be easier if the army showed up."
The exact location of the talks, which have been ongoing since Wednesday, was not disclosed for security reasons. They are expected to last a maximum of ten days. Representatives from Saudi Arabia and Switzerland are also involved. The African Union, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and the UN are participating as observers.
In Sudan, the army of military ruler Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the RSF militia of his former deputy Mohammed Hamdan Daglo have been engaged in a power struggle since April 2023. According to the UN, tens of thousands of people have been killed in the fighting.
©Keystone/SDA
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