Large-scale protests by Sudanese citizens took place in Geneva, with demonstrators gathering outside the venue of ongoing negotiations, demanding an end to the conflict in their homeland.
The protesters carried banners calling for peace and stability, emphasizing the urgent need for a comprehensive solution to the crisis.
These demonstrations occur at a critical time when the international community is actively seeking a political settlement to the conflict, which has severely impacted millions of lives in Sudan.
The participants expressed their deep concern over the continuing humanitarian suffering and urged swift action towards achieving peace.
The protesters called on the international community to support peace efforts in Sudan, stressing the importance of including all parties in the negotiations.
This event reflects the Sudanese people’s commitment to securing a better future for their country and highlights the pressing need to resolve the conflict.
Yesterday, international talks aimed at securing a ceasefire and addressing the severe humanitarian crisis caused by the conflict began in Geneva.
The talks, however, are taking place without the participation of the Sudanese Armed Forces, led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. The Rapid Support Forces (RSF), led by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemetti), are represented by a delegation.
The negotiations involve the US, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates, along with the African Union and the United Nations, under intense international scrutiny.
US Special Envoy for Sudan, Tom Brilow, emphasized on social media that the focus of these talks is ensuring that all parties honor their commitments made in Jeddah, cease hostilities, respect international humanitarian laws, and facilitate the delivery of aid. He declared, “It is time to silence the guns.”
The RSF delegation in Geneva is led by Brigadier General Omar Hamdan and includes advisors Mohamed Mokhtar, Ezzedine Al-Safi, and media advisor Nizar Sayed Ahmed.
This is the same team that participated in the Jeddah negotiations, which resulted in the signing of the “Jeddah Humanitarian Declaration.”
The Sudanese Armed Forces suspended their participation in the talks due to several objections, including the presence of representatives from the United Arab Emirates and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) as observers.
They also rejected the relocation of negotiations from Jeddah to another venue, despite U.S. assurances that Geneva is an extension of the Jeddah process, with the implementation of the Jeddah Humanitarian Declaration being a key focus.
Tom Brilow indicated that the RSF has unconditionally agreed to participate in the talks, affirming that negotiations will continue with or without military representatives, despite the challenges of conducting formal mediation in the absence of government officials.
The talks will concentrate on “practical issues,” though specific details were not disclosed.
The conflict in Sudan, which began on April 15, 2023, involves three main factions: the Sudanese Army, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, and various armed groups that signed the Juba Peace Agreement. Some of these groups have sided with the army, while others have remained neutral.
