NOTE from Sudan Watch Editor: I have been dreading today's news about the long awaited Sudan ceasefire talks being held in Geneva, Switzerland starting today. I fear it is Sudan's last chance to save itself and its people and more delays will enable the SAF and RSF to keep on killing their own people.
A BBC report just in (below) says neither side turned up for talks. I know it is none of my business, I am not Sudanese, it is not my place to interfere. As an anti-poverty campaigner, it pains me to know millions of poverty-stricken Sudanese will continue to suffer unnecessarily, I am seeing red right now.
In my view, it is impossible to know what the Americans are playing at. They do not seem to know what they are doing. It is difficult to understand what they and their people like Ms Molly Phee are cooking up behind the scenes.
Personally, I wish the ICC would now issue arrest warrants for Messrs Burhan and Hemeti without further delay, charging them with mass murder and blatantly refusing to abide by international and humanitarian law.
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Report from BBC News
Written by Wedaeli Chibelushi, Imogen Foulkes & Kalkidan Yibetal
Dated Wednesday, 14 August 2024. Full copy:
Sudan peace talks start - but neither side shows up
Image source, AFP Image caption, Around 10 million people have fled their homes as a result of the war
Fresh peace talks aimed at ending Sudan's 16-month war have started although neither warring side has entered the negotiating room.
The US, which is leading the talks, insisted the event continued regardless, saying "we are going to try to do everything we can to try to end this horrific crisis in Sudan".
Fighting between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has killed thousands, driven about 10 million people from their homes and sparked what the United Nations has called the "world's worst hunger crisis".
The army said it would boycott the talks several days ago, while RSF delegates went to Switzerland but at the last minute said they would stay away.
Dashing hopes of a ceasefire, the army said it would not attend as the RSF had not implemented "what was agreed upon" in Saudi Arabia last year.
The paramilitary group had not met key conditions of the Jeddah Declaration, such as withdrawing its fighters from civilians’ houses and public facilities, the army said.
"Military operations will not stop without the withdrawal of every last militiaman from the cities and villages they have plundered and colonised," said Sudanese armed forces chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan.
The RSF has denied accusations of looting and violence against civilians.
As late as Tuesday night, there were still hopes that Sudan's army would arrive for the talks. Tom Perriello, the US Special Envoy for Sudan, said at 23:30 GMT (00:30 Swiss time) that the delegates were "still waiting on the SAF".
"The world is watching," he posted on X.
Mr Perriello told the BBC that in the absence of both sides, the other parties were "moving forward with the negotiations on everything we can do, to make sure we are getting food and medicine and civilian protection to every person in Sudan".
The RSF on Tuesday night said its arrival in Geneva was "a powerful testament to our resolve and determination to alleviate the suffering of the Sudanese people". The group called on the army to attend the talks.
However, the RSF were not present at the start of the talks on Wednesday. The group has not publicly given a reason for withdrawing.
Before the talks were due to begin, and before the RSF pulled out, Mukesh Kapila, the former United Nations Chief Coordinator for Sudan, said the mood among the delegates was "pretty glum".
"I don't think the two belligerents are interested in talking to each other. One of them is not here already and not much is expected," he told the BBC.
Mr Perriello, however, said he was "very, very hopeful" that the army would listen to "the overwhelming voice of the Sudanese people" and send delegates to Geneva for the talks.
Previous peace talks in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain have all failed.
Delegates from the US, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the African Union and the United Nations attended Wednesday's ceremony.
As well as citing the Jeddah Declaration, the army also said it objected to the presence of the UAE as an observer.
The UAE has been accused of arming the RSF, although the Gulf nation has denied any involvement.
The US said the UAE and Egypt - also thought to wield influence in the conflict - needed to attend the talks to help ensure any ceasefire actually holds.
According to the UN’s migration agency, tens of thousands of preventable deaths are looming in Sudan if the conflict and restrictions on humanitarian aid continue.
As talks began in Geneva, medical charity MSF said the last functioning city in the besieged Sudanese city of el-Fasher may have to shut down due to intensive bombardment.
The surgical ward in the Saudi hospital was hit on Sunday, killing the carer of a patient and injuring five others, the charity reported.
The Rapid Support Forces have been trying to capture the city from the army for several months, forcing tens of thousands of civilian to flee.
It is the last city still under army control in the western region of Darfur, where the RSF has been accused of widespread atrocities against the region's non-Arabic population.
Additional reporting from Will Ross
View original: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c985493m719o
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Related reports
BBC News - Wed 14 Aug 2024
Sudan army boycotts US-led peace talks
Sudan's army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan refused to send a delegation to the peace talks in Geneva. Fresh peace talks aimed at ending Sudan's 16-month war have started although neither warring side has entered the negotiating room. The US, which is leading the talks, insisted the event continued regardless, saying "we are going to try to do everything we can to try to end this horrific crisis in Sudan".
Full story: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c985493m719o
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Dabanga English Online - Wed 14 Aug 2024
Cameron Hudson: ‘Outside backers perpetuate Sudan stalemate’
Hudson emphasised that SAF’s decision to boycott the talks is not final. “It is a reversible decision,” he said, highlighting that SAF could be compelled or choose to change its stance depending on the evolving situation on the ground. He pointed out that SAF has consistently insisted on the implementation of the previous Jeddah agreement and seeks recognition not as an equivalent to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), but as the ‘legitimate government’ of Sudan.
Full story: https://www.dabangasudan.org/en/all-news/article/cameron-hudson-outside-backers-perpetuate-sudan-stalemat
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Geneva Solutions - Tue 13 Aug 2024
Sudan talks in Geneva: ‘We want peace’
Yassin regretted the exclusion of Tagadum and other civilian representatives from the talks. Only a dozen representatives from women’s groups, whose identities have not been disclosed for security reasons, were invited as observers, along with the United Nations and the African Union. He still welcomed the talks as “a good step towards building peace”. Rasheed harbours no illusions on her part, noting that “civilian voices are largely ignored”. “These people are treated as legitimate leaders. The table is there for those with the guns,” she said. She still views it as a necessary step. “The main thing is to stop the senseless dying and starving. Whatever progress is made is more than welcome.”
Full story: https://genevasolutions.news/peace-humanitarian/sudan-talks-in-geneva-we-want-peace
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