By Sudan’s army has rejected a call from the United States to return to peace talks with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) following a conversation between General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. The war between the army and RSF, which erupted in April 2023 over a transition to free elections, has claimed thousands of lives and displaced more than 9 million people.
Malik Agar, a former rebel leader and Burhan’s second-in-command on the country’s Transitional Sovereign Council, defiantly stated, “We will not go to Jeddah (venue for talks in Saudi Arabia) and whoever wants us to should kill us in our country and take our bodies there.” His statement underscores the deep divisions and mistrust between the warring factions.
Meanwhile, intense fighting continued in northern areas of the capital Khartoum on Wednesday, with residents reporting heavy aerial bombing and artillery fire. The ongoing violence has left the city in ruins and its residents in a state of constant fear and uncertainty.
On Tuesday, the U.S. State Department revealed that Secretary Blinken had discussed with General Burhan the need to end the war and resume talks sponsored by the U.S. and Saudi Arabia in Jeddah. However, these talks have been stalled for months after failing to achieve a sustained ceasefire.
Sudan’s army-aligned foreign ministry welcomed an Egyptian invitation for a summit of civilian political groups on Wednesday but placed conditions on the types of groups and foreign actors invited. Agar suggested that a separate summit for civilian political parties taking place in Addis Ababa was a distraction from the primary goal of ending the war.
The RSF has previously expressed its openness to talks, although neither side has adhered to commitments made in prior rounds of negotiations. The lack of trust and the unwillingness to compromise have been major obstacles to achieving a lasting peace.
In addition to the ongoing conflict in Khartoum, Blinken and Burhan also discussed the need to defuse hostilities in al-Fashir, the North Darfur capital. Fighting in the area has escalated since May 10, resulting in the deaths of at least 145 people and the displacement of over 3,600 families, according to reports from the United Nations and the aid group Medecins Sans Frontieres.
The RSF has surrounded al-Fashir and raided civilian neighborhoods, while the army, fighting to maintain its presence in its last stronghold in the Darfur region, has carried out costly air strikes in the area. Residents have reported that projectiles from both sides have fallen and destroyed homes, while access to hospitals, water, and electricity services has been severely limited.
As the conflict in Sudan continues to rage, the international community remains deeply concerned about the humanitarian crisis and the growing number of civilian casualties. The rejection of peace talks by Sudan’s army and the ongoing hostilities in al-Fashir underscore the urgent need for a peaceful resolution to the conflict and the restoration of stability in the country.
