In a glimmer of hope for war-torn Sudan, rival political factions met in Cairo on Saturday for the first reconciliation talks since the conflict began in April 2023. However, both sides acknowledged the significant challenges in achieving a swift end to the violence.
The talks, facilitated by Egypt, brought together the Democratic Bloc, aligned with the Sudanese army, and the Taqaddum coalition, which includes pro-democracy groups. A key point of contention emerged as the Democratic Bloc refused direct discussions with Taqaddum, accusing them of ties to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Notably, neither the army nor the RSF participated in the talks.
The brutal conflict in Sudan has displaced nearly 10 million people and sparked fears of famine. The RSF, blamed for ethnically-driven violence, recently intensified its operations in Sennar state, further worsening the humanitarian crisis. General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, head of the Sudanese army, reiterated his stance of refusing negotiations with the RSF or its supporters.
Newly appointed Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty emphasized the urgency of stopping the fighting, highlighting the “catastrophic consequences” of the conflict. Previous attempts at reconciliation, including US and Saudi Arabia-backed talks in Jeddah late last year, proved unsuccessful.
While both factions agreed to establish a committee for a final communique, a sense of deep division was evident. Finance Minister and Democratic Bloc leader Jibril Ibrahim downplayed expectations, stating that reconciliation requires the RSF’s withdrawal from civilian areas and an end to UAE support for the paramilitary group. The UAE has denied these allegations.
Former Prime Minister and Taqaddum leader Abdalla Hamdok refuted claims of RSF ties and expressed his hope for future direct talks with the army. He, along with diplomats present, stressed the need for patience and incremental progress.
The international community remains cautiously optimistic. US Special Envoy Tom Perriello expressed hope that the Cairo talks will build momentum for another round of discussions led by the African Union next week. This latest initiative underscores the ongoing international efforts to bring peace to war-ravaged Sudan.
