Delegations from both warring factions in Sudan are in Geneva for discussions with a UN envoy, although one party has yet to attend the meetings, the United Nations reported on Friday.
Conflict has continued since April 2023 between the Sudanese regular army, led by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), headed by his former deputy Mohamed Hamdan Daglo.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’s envoy for Sudan, Ramtane Lamamra, invited delegations from both the army and the RSF for talks in Geneva, focusing on humanitarian aid and civilian protection, UN spokeswoman Alessandra Vellucci said during a media briefing.
Despite being present in Geneva, one faction did not attend the first day of discussions on Thursday, Vellucci noted, without specifying which party. The talks are following a “proximity format,” where Lamamra meets with each delegation separately.
“The personal envoy has started the discussion, yesterday; indeed one of the parties didn’t show up, but they are here in Geneva,” Vellucci stated. “I can’t give you the details on which warring party has showed up or not. We urge both parties to participate in the discussions.”
The engagements continue today, with talks taking place at the UN’s Palais des Nations headquarters. No end date has been scheduled.
