Sudan Rejects U.S. Calls to Resume Jeddah Peace Talks Amid Ongoing Conflict
In a firm stance, the Sudanese government has rejected U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken’s call to return to the Jeddah negotiation platform, which aimed to facilitate peace talks between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The rejection underscores the deep-seated complexities and challenges facing peace efforts in the war-torn nation.
Malik Agar, Deputy Chairman of Sudan’s Transitional Sovereign Council, voiced this rejection at a political conference in Port Sudan. He criticized the U.S. invitation as disrespectful and emphasized Sudan’s need for a peace process founded on solid, internal agreements rather than external pressures.
“The invitation by U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken for Chairman of Sudan’s Transitional Sovereign Council Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan to go to the Jeddah negotiation platform embodies contempt for Sudan and cannot be accepted,” said Agar. He further highlighted that while Sudan is committed to peace, it must be based on internal consensus and stability first, without interference from political parties with divergent agendas.
Background of the Jeddah Negotiations
The Jeddah peace initiative, launched by Saudi Arabia and the U.S. on May 6, 2023, represented the first significant effort to halt the ongoing conflict in Sudan. Despite several truces being agreed upon, the negotiations faced numerous challenges and were eventually suspended last December due to fundamental disagreements between the warring factions.
The Ongoing Conflict
Since April 15, 2023, Sudan has been engulfed in violent clashes between the SAF and the RSF, resulting in a humanitarian crisis. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the conflict has claimed 15,550 lives and displaced 8.8 million people.
During a recent phone conversation with Al-Burhan, Blinken reiterated the need to end the conflict, facilitate humanitarian access, and resume the Jeddah negotiations. However, Agar’s response reflects a strong preference for a Sudanese-led peace process, free from external dictation.
The Path Forward
Agar emphasized that the current priority for Sudan should be ending the conflict and achieving stability through internal dialogue. “Sudan has not and will not agree to go to Jeddah, not because we do not want peace, but because peace must have foundations. We will not accept that without being consulted,” he stated.
This rejection signals a critical juncture for international diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving the Sudanese conflict. The path forward appears to hinge on the ability of Sudanese leaders to forge a unified and internally-supported peace process, one that addresses the root causes of the conflict and establishes a sustainable framework for national reconciliation.
As the situation develops, the international community will be closely watching how Sudan navigates these complex dynamics, hoping for a resolution that brings lasting peace to the beleaguered nation.
