U.S. Special Envoy for Sudan Tom Perriello revealed early this week that he had been in contact with Sudan army leader General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, two months before the Geneva talks on a humanitarian ceasefire.
During a press conference in Addis Ababa, Perriello detailed the ongoing efforts to facilitate discussions between General al-Burhan’s army (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), scheduled for August 14 in Geneva.
In response to a reporter’s questions about General al-Burhan’s request for consultation, Perriello confirmed active dialogue with both the SAF and the RSF, as well as the broader Sudanese community.
Perriello said the U.S. was pleased that al-Burhan reached out two months ago with interest in the talks.
Addressing a canceled meeting with Sudanese military leaders in Port Sudan, Perriello said, “We recently attempted to put together a trip… We worked closely with the Sudanese on this process… The SAF communicated to us that they would not be comfortable coming to meet us at the airport. We respected that decision.”
Regarding an assassination attempt on al-Burhan, Perriello expressed concern and affirmed the U.S.’s commitment to the peace talks.
The special envoy outlined three primary goals for the peace initiative: a national cessation of violence, full humanitarian access to all 18 states, and a mechanism for monitoring and enforcing these objectives.
Perriello’s revelation that General al-Burhan reached out for peace talks raises questions about the sincerity of al-Burhan’s earlier statements regarding a boycott of the peace talks.
