SUDAN'S PARAMILITARY LEADER TO ATTEND CEASE-FIRE TALKS IN SWITZERLAND

Geneva.

Sudan’s paramilitary leader, Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, has announced plans to attend cease-fire talks in Switzerland next month, organized by the United States and Saudi Arabia. Dagalo, head of the Rapid Support Forces, expressed hope that the talks would be a significant step toward peace and stability in Sudan, aiming for a new state founded on justice, equality, and federal rule.

“We share with the international community the goal of achieving a full cease-fire across the country and facilitating humanitarian access to everyone in need,” Dagalo said on X, formerly known as Twitter.

The talks are scheduled to begin on August 14 at an undisclosed location in Switzerland. The Sudanese army, led by Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, has not yet decided whether to send a delegation.

The U.S. State Department stated that the talks would build on previous discussions held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The African Union, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Nations will serve as observers.

“The talks in Switzerland aim to reach a nationwide cessation of violence, enable humanitarian access, and develop a robust monitoring and verification mechanism,” U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said. He emphasized that the talks would not address broader political issues.

Sudan has been in conflict since mid-April 2023, with over 14,000 people killed and 33,000 injured. The war has created the world’s largest displacement crisis, with over 11 million people forced to flee their homes. International experts warn that 755,000 people face famine in the coming months.

Switzerland’s Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed co-hosting the talks, emphasizing efforts to resolve the conflict through negotiation.

Last week, the U.N. hosted indirect talks in Geneva focusing on humanitarian aid and the protection of civilians across Sudan.