The Sudanese government is hesitating to accept a US invitation for ceasefire talks amid the ongoing war between the army and paramilitary forces. The foreign affairs ministry, aligned with the regular army, insists on the complete withdrawal of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) before negotiations can proceed.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s invitation for talks in Geneva on August 14 has been met with reluctance from the government, despite RSF leader General Mohammed Hamdan Daglo expressing interest in participating. The conflict, which began in April 2023, has claimed thousands of lives and led to a severe humanitarian crisis.
The US has called for a country-wide cessation of violence to facilitate humanitarian aid, with Saudi Arabia co-sponsoring the negotiations. However, previous attempts to reach a ceasefire have failed, exacerbating the displacement of over 11 million people and widespread food insecurity in Sudan.
Both sides have faced accusations of war crimes and obstructing aid, further crippling the already fragile health system in the country. The push for peace talks remains uncertain as Sudan teeters on the brink of famine and devastation.