Can Sudan peace talks yield results as neither army nor paramilitary attend?

Fresh peace talks aimed at ending the brutal 16-month-long conflict in Sudan have started in Geneva although none of the parties fighting each other has entered the negotiating room. The US is leading the discussions this time.

The fighting involving the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces has killed thousands of people, driven nearly 10 million from their homes and triggered an unprecedented hunger crisis. There is an urgent need for a ceasefire to put an end to the problem.

The RSF on Tuesday night called its arrival in Geneva a “testament to our resolve and determination to alleviate the suffering of the Sudanese people.” The group even called on the army to attend the talks. But the RSF did not attend the meeting the next day.

Has RSF not met key conditions of Jeddah Declaration?

Dashing hopes of a ceasefire, the Sudanese army said it is not ready to attend the talks as the paramilitary group had not met key conditions of the Jeddah Declaration, such as removing its fighters from civilians’ houses and public facilities.

Previous negotiations in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain have all failed. Delegates from the US, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the African Union and the UN attended yesterday’s ceremony in Geneva, engaging in intensive diplomatic efforts for Sudan.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has said that Sudan is facing a health crisis as medical infrastructure has been destroyed and 2 out of 3 civilians are no longer able to access basic health services as a result of the fighting.

UAE reiterates need for immediate ceasefire in Sudan

The UAE has also raised alarm over the crisis unfolding in Sudan. Severe food insecurity is affecting more than 25 million Sudanese citizens. The international community cannot let the people of Sudan to be used as a political bargaining chip, the Gulf state stresses.

The Emirates affirms that the humanitarian crisis in Sudan demands an emergency response that helps secure a ceasefire and facilitates the quick delivery of aid. Trucks full of lifesaving supplies are held on the border of the country amid thousands starving.

The UAE has been reiterating the need for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Sudan. The Gulf state has allocated $70 million to address the urgent needs of the Sudanese people and $30 million to regional countries to support Sudanese refugees in the region.

The brutal armed conflict in Sudan is estimated to have resulted in more than 15,000 deaths, over 7.7 million internally displaced persons, and over 2.1 million refugees fleeing the country. So can the Geneva discussions yield satisfactory results?