Negotiations to End Sudan War Expected to Restart Mid-April

US Special Envoy for Sudan, Tom Perriello, announced on Tuesday that formal talks aimed at ending the year-long conflict in Sudan are likely to resume in mid-April. Despite previous unsuccessful attempts, Perriello expressed optimism, pointing to shifting ground realities that may favor a resolution.

He said efforts are underway to reconcile the conflicting parties, with a focus on bringing opposing generals to the negotiation table.

Perriello emphasized the absence of a clear victory on either side and the looming famine as potential catalysts for successful negotiations this time.

The US envoy stressed the importance of strategic involvement by engaging key stakeholders rather than overwhelming participation, to facilitate a resolution to get the war to an end.

He noted that the resurgence of extremists in Sudan also call for urgent need for dialogue and decisive action into the peace process.

Scheduled for after Ramadan, with April 18 as a potential start date, the talks will convene in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

The talks according to Perriello, to be co-hosted by the US and Saudi Arabia, anticipate involvement from the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, and the African Union.

According to the UN, the war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) nearing its one-year mark, has caused thousand deaths, million displacements, and a dire hunger crisis characterized as the world’s largest.