New Peace Talks to Address Sudan’s Civil War Amid Famine Crisis

New Peace Talks Initiated to Address Sudan’s Civil War

The United States is set to commence new peace negotiations on Wednesday, aiming to put an end to the devastating civil war in Sudan. This renewed push for dialogue is largely motivated by escalating concerns that the ongoing conflict is plunging the nation deeper into a famine crisis, which experts warn could become one of the most severe in recent decades.

However, the participation of Sudan’s military, one of the two primary factions embroiled in the war, remains uncertain as they have announced they will not attend the negotiations scheduled to take place in Switzerland. This absence poses a significant obstacle to the hopes for a swift cease-fire in a conflict that has persisted for 16 long months, primarily between the forces of rival generals.

Earlier this month, famine was officially declared in the western region of Darfur, with additional areas expected to declare similar emergencies in the near future. According to estimates, as many as 2.5 million Sudanese could face starvation by the end of September if the conflict continues unabated.

In light of the alarming humanitarian crisis unfolding in Sudan—a vast nation located in northeastern Africa—American officials have emphasized the urgent need to launch this new peace initiative, despite the apparent slim chances for a successful resolution.

On Monday, Lt. Gen. Mohamed Hamdan, the leader of the paramilitary group known as the Rapid Support Forces, reaffirmed his faction’s commitment to participating in the talks. This comes after a drone strike seemed to target military leadership during a parade in eastern Sudan on July 31. In response, military chief Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan rejected the prospect of attending the negotiations, stating defiantly, “We will not retreat, we will not surrender, and we will not negotiate.”