By: Chioma Madonna Ndukwu
The Sudanese army has refused to send a delegation to the US-led peace talks in Geneva, aimed at resolving the country’s 16-month civil war. Despite the army’s absence, the talks proceeded, with the US stressing that “millions suffering in Sudan cannot afford for us to wait.” The conflict between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has already resulted in thousands of deaths and displaced approximately 10 million people.
The army justified its boycott by accusing the RSF of failing to implement key provisions of the Jeddah Declaration from 2022, including the withdrawal of fighters from civilian areas. Additionally, the army objected to the presence of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as an observer, claiming it supports the RSF.
Meanwhile, the RSF, which did attend the talks, called on the army to “commit to fulfilling the democratic aspirations of the Sudanese people.” The ongoing conflict, coupled with restrictions on humanitarian aid, has led the United Nations to warn of tens of thousands of preventable deaths if the situation continues.
Source: BBC News
