Saudi Arabia to Host Sudan Peace Talks Amid Ongoing Conflict

Saudi Arabia is set to host peace talks on the ongoing conflict in Sudan within the next three weeks, according to recent reports. The United States has called for ceasefire negotiations between the conflicting parties in Sudan, and the upcoming talks in Saudi Arabia aim to bring together the various factions involved in the Sudanese civil war to find a peaceful resolution to the crisis.

The US State Department announced that the discussions will be held in Jeddah and were revealed at a France-backed international conference in Paris that raised over two million euros for Sudan. The conflict in Sudan has been ongoing for over a year between the Sudanese army and paramilitary forces, causing a major humanitarian crisis. The US called for the army and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) to "negotiate in good faith toward a ceasefire."

Egypt, the UAE, the African Union, and the IGAD East African trade bloc will partner in facilitating the talks. The US and Saudi Arabia have already supported several rounds of negotiations in Jeddah without success. The fighting broke out in April 2022 between Sudan's army and the RSF paramilitaries, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths and over 8.5 million people forced to flee their homes.

Leaders from Sudan's six neighboring countries, including Egypt, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Chad, Eritrea, the Central African Republic, and Libya, met in Cairo for high-profile peace talks to address the conflict. The summit, hosted by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi, acknowledged the threat the conflict poses to the region and urged the warring parties to commit to an immediate ceasefire. The leaders agreed to facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid, establish a foreign ministers working group to communicate directly with the Sudanese parties, and present recommendations at the next summit.

Why this matters: The ongoing conflict in Sudan has resulted in a significant humanitarian crisis, with tens of thousands of deaths and millions displaced. The international community's efforts to facilitate peace talks and negotiate a ceasefire are crucial in addressing the suffering of the Sudanese people and preventing further regional instability.

While the international community remains hopeful that the negotiations in Saudi Arabia will help de-escalate the violence and pave the way for a lasting political settlement in Sudan, some experts are skeptical about the talks yielding positive results unless certain basic conditions are met. Cameron Hudson, a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, emphasized that all parties related to the conflict, including countries supporting the warring factions, must seriously participate in the talks for them to succeed. The selection process of dialogue participants is also crucial in determining the legitimacy and outcomes of the dialogue, as past experiences have shown that real inclusivity and participation remain a remote element in such conventions.

Key Takeaways

• Saudi Arabia to host peace talks on Sudan conflict in 3 weeks.
• US calls for ceasefire negotiations between Sudanese army and RSF.
• Egypt, UAE, AU, and IGAD to facilitate the talks in Jeddah.
• Conflict has caused humanitarian crisis with thousands dead, millions displaced.
• Experts skeptical about talks' success without full participation of all parties.