Sudan’s army has rejected a call to return to peace talks with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) following a conversation between General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. The war between the army and RSF has resulted in thousands of deaths and over 9 million displaced people since it erupted in April 2023 over a transition to free elections.
Malik Agar, a former rebel leader and Burhan’s number two on the country’s Transitional Sovereign Council, stated that the army will not return to peace talks in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, saying “We will not go to Jeddah and whoever wants us to should kill us in our country and take our bodies there.”
Intense fighting continued in northern areas of the capital Khartoum on Wednesday, with residents reporting heavy aerial bombing and artillery fire. The State Department reported that Blinken discussed with Burhan the need to end the war and resume talks sponsored by the US and Saudi Arabia in Jeddah, which have been stalled for months after failing to achieve a sustained ceasefire.
Sudan’s army-aligned foreign ministry welcomed an Egyptian invitation for a summit of civilian political groups on Wednesday, but placed conditions on the types of groups and foreign actors invited. Agar suggested that a separate summit for civilian political parties taking place in Addis Ababa was a distraction from the aim of ending the war.
The RSF has previously stated that it is open to talks, though neither side has abided by commitments made in prior rounds. In Tuesday’s call, Blinken also discussed the need to defuse hostilities in al-Fashir, the North Darfur capital, where fighting has escalated since May 10.
According to UN and Medecins Sans Frontieres aid group reports, the fighting in al-Fashir has killed at least 145 people and displaced over 3,600 families, most of them this week. The RSF has surrounded al-Fashir and raided civilian neighborhoods, while the army has carried out costly air strikes in the area.
Residents say projectiles from either side have fallen and destroyed homes, while few people are able to reach hospitals and water and electricity services have been cut off. The situation in al-Fashir has become increasingly dire, with civilians bearing the brunt of the conflict.
The international community has been urging both sides to return to peace talks and end the violence, but so far, no agreement has been reached. The US and Saudi Arabia have been sponsoring talks in Jeddah, but the process has been stalled for months.
The conflict in Sudan has had far-reaching consequences, with millions displaced and thousands killed. The international community is increasingly concerned about the humanitarian situation and the need for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
The rejection of the call to return to peace talks by Sudan’s army is a setback for efforts to end the war and bring peace to the country. The situation remains volatile, with fighting continuing in several areas, including al-Fashir, and civilians caught in the middle.
