Sudan’s army-aligned government announced on Tuesday that it would send a delegation to Cairo to discuss implementing a previous humanitarian agreement. This comes amidst ongoing efforts by the United States to broker a ceasefire between the army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Switzerland. However, the army has refused to participate in these Swiss talks.
The conflict in Sudan erupted in April 2023 between the army, led by the country’s de facto ruler Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the RSF, commanded by Burhan’s former deputy Mohamed Hamdan Daglo. The war has devastated the nation, killing tens of thousands and displacing a fifth of the population.
The US-brokered ceasefire talks in Switzerland, which the RSF is attending, have been met with staunch opposition from the army. Burhan has repeatedly rejected the talks, stating that peace will not be achieved until the RSF withdraws from all cities and villages they have occupied. The government accuses the mediators of attempting to legitimize the RSF and undermine the Sudanese state. They have also rejected the United Arab Emirates’ presence as an observer in the Swiss talks, accusing Abu Dhabi of supporting the RSF.
Despite the army’s refusal to participate directly, the US envoy to Sudan, Tom Perriello, has confirmed that discussions are ongoing in “virtual proximity talks”, where mediators communicate with each side separately.
Despite the ongoing conflict, there have been signs of progress on humanitarian access to Sudan. The army agreed on Thursday to reopen the crucial Adre border crossing between the country’s western Darfur region and Chad, a significant step for delivering aid to the over 25 million people facing acute hunger.
Egypt, which is a key supporter of Burhan’s government, is also part of the steering group for the Swiss talks, along with the UAE, the African Union, the United Nations, and co-host Saudi Arabia. The decision to send a delegation to Cairo indicates the army’s willingness to engage with some form of mediation, but its rejection of the Swiss talks highlights the deep divisions and mistrust between the warring factions. The path to peace in Sudan remains uncertain and fraught with challenges.
