Army leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan’s about-face on joining talks dampens hopes they will lead to the end of 16-month war.
A new round of talks aimed at ending the 16-month civil war in Sudan has started in Switzerland without the presence of the army. The absence of Army leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan has cast doubts on the potential breakthrough in negotiations with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) led by Mohamed Hamdan “Hemedti” Dagalo.
The conflict began in April last year and has escalated despite past peace agreements. Both sides have violated terms, with the RSF accused of continued bombardment of cities and the army accusing the RSF of failing to adhere to peace commitments.
With millions displaced and a looming humanitarian crisis, the UN has warned of tens of thousands of preventable deaths in Sudan if the fighting does not cease soon. The talks in Switzerland involve various international parties, but the path to peace remains uncertain.