The US State Department said humanitarian and ceasefire talks have reconvened between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces in a bid to resolve the conflict.
The objective of the discussions, which are being held in Saudi town of Jeddah, include to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid and build toward a “permanent cessation of hostilities,” the agency said in a statement on Sunday.
The US and Saudi Arabia are participating in talks, while the Intergovernmental Authority for Development, on behalf of the African Union, is a co-facilitator.
“There is no acceptable military solution to this conflict,” the State Department said. “We call upon the SAF and RSF to approach the talks constructively, with the imperative to save lives, reduce the fighting, and create a path to a negotiated exit.”
While the delegations from both sides arrived in Jeddah on Thursday, disagreements emerged over the composition of the delegations, particularly concerning Omer Siddiq, a Sudanese army delegate previously dismissed by the empowerment removal committee and subsequently reinstated by al-Burhan after the coup on October 25, 2021.
Separately, Martin Griffiths, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, said that the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs would oversee the humanitarian aspect of these negotiations.
More than six months since the start of the crisis in Sudan, the humanitarian tragedy in the country continues to unfold unabated.
“These talks are a decisive opportunity to let the people of Sudan know that they are not forgotten, that we take our international responsibilities seriously, and that we are committed to ensuring they receive the care, protection and life-saving assistance that they need,” said Griffiths.
“I welcome the resumption of these talks and am grateful to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States for co-hosting them,” he added.