According to the UN, the conflict in Sudan is the worst displacement crisis in the world. But now there is hope: the USA has invited both parties to peace talks. The RSF militia has already agreed.
In Sudan, there are signs of a relaxation in the ongoing conflict. The USA announced talks on a ceasefire in the civil war-torn country. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the USA had invited the Sudanese army and the RSF militia to begin negotiations mediated by the United States in Switzerland on August 14.
The leader of the Sudanese paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, confirmed his group's participation in the peace talks. “We reaffirm our determination (…) to save lives, end the fighting and pave the way for a peaceful, negotiated political solution,” he said. The aim is to bring the country back under civilian control and initiate democratic change.
According to information from Washington, Saudi Arabia is also involved in the talks. The African Union (AU), Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and the United Nations will be observers.
Millions displaced, thousands dead
In the East African country, the army of military ruler Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the RSF militia of his former deputy Daglo have been fighting each other for around a year. The background to this is disputes over the transition to a civilian government. More than eight million people have been driven from their homes in the conflict so far – according to the United Nations, it is the worst displacement crisis in the world. More than 14,000 people have been killed. According to the UN, almost 25 million Sudanese – half the population – are in urgent need of help. Around 18 million people are suffering from hunger, of which 3.6 million are children who are severely malnourished.
Previous negotiations in Saudi Arabia did not lead to an end to the fighting. Subsequent mediation attempts, including by the AU, failed to bring the conflicting parties to the table.
