Cairo talks on Sudan’s ceasefire deal postponed as differences escalate

A consultation meeting between Sudan, under the leadership of besieged military leader Abdel-Fattah Al-Burhan, and the United States on implementing the Jeddah Agreement was postponed on Wednesday due to disagreements over the composition of the Sudanese delegation.

The talks, originally scheduled for Wednesday in Cairo and mediated by Egypt, were intended to discuss the implementation of the Jeddah Agreement, a humanitarian ceasefire deal signed in May 2023 to end the conflict in Sudan.

However, the Sudan Tribune reported that disagreements arose over the inclusion of members of Sudan’s military intelligence and armed movements from Darfur in the delegation.

According to a Sudanese official who spoke anonymously to the Sudan Tribune, the US and Egypt reportedly objected to these late additions, leading to the postponement.

Tom Perriello, the US envoy to Sudan, confirmed his departure from Cairo, stating on X that he was returning to Switzerland to continue discussions on the delivery of humanitarian aid. He appreciated his meeting with

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and other officials during his visit.

"The Egyptian government had scheduled a meeting with a delegation from Port Sudan, but we were told that would be stood down after the delegation breached protocols," Perriello posted on X.

The postponement comes amid ongoing talks in Geneva on the Sudan crisis, involving the US, the United Nations, the African Union, IGAD, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

The Sudanese army is boycotting these talks due to their rejection of the participation of the Emirates.

In a statement released Wednesday, Sudan’s Sovereign Council reaffirmed the government’s commitment to dialogue and engagement with the United States and Egypt. However, it noted that the planned Cairo meeting was postponed due to “circumstances related to the United States delegation”.

The council stated it had formed a delegation to meet with American officials in Cairo at the invitation of the US and Egypt to discuss the implementation of the Jeddah Declaration signed on May 11, 2023.

“Two members of our delegation arrived in Cairo last Monday and remain there awaiting the rest of the delegation,” the statement said.

The council emphasised that these consultations were separate from the ongoing talks in Geneva and were aimed solely at clarifying Sudan’s perspective on implementing the Jeddah Declaration.

The Sudanese Armed Forces have maintained that any resumption of talks with the RSF depends on the latter implementing the preconditions agreed upon in the Jeddah talks.

These include the RSF withdrawing from private and public properties they currently occupy and relocating to agreed-upon locations outside the cities.

However, in a stark warning, RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan 'Hemedti' Dagalo accused the military leadership of failing to show a genuine commitment to the peace talks. His remarks came amid ongoing conflict, with the RSF leader threatening to escalate the situation if the military's approach to negotiations does not change.

In a post on X last Sunday, Hemedti criticised General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his allies, claiming that their primary concern is maintaining their own privileges rather than working for the future of Sudan and alleviating the suffering of its people.

"It has become undeniably clear that al-Burhan and his clique lack any genuine commitment to negotiation, working towards Sudan's future, or alleviating the suffering of its people, who are facing significant challenges due to the war ignited by the Islamic Movement and its leaders within the armed forces," Hemedti stated.

He expressed frustration over the ongoing Geneva peace talks, where his delegation is participating intending to resolve the Sudanese crisis.

He also accused the military leadership, which he referred to as the "Port Sudan gang", of being more concerned with their interests and preserving a system that has brought "wars, displacement, and refugees" to Sudan.

"While our negotiating delegation is in Geneva with a sincere desire to find a solution to the Sudanese crisis, the Port Sudan gang is primarily focused on preserving their privileges and personal interests, which are deeply intertwined with the interests of the old regime that bequeathed us wars, displacement, and refugees," he said.

Hemedti reaffirmed his commitment to negotiations as a strategic approach to achieving stability in Sudan, despite issuing a veiled threat signalling that his forces are prepared to pursue alternative measures if the situation demands it.

The African Union and regional body IGAD have been accused of remaining silent as the conflict escalates.

The paramilitary group under Hemedti has been repeatedly accused of gross human rights violations across the country since the war started in April last year when simmering tensions between the military and the RSF exploded into open fighting in the capital Khartoum and elsewhere.

The conflict has killed more than 14,000 people and wounded 33,000, according to the United Nations, though rights activists believe the toll could be higher.

The Sudan Conflict Monitor, a group of experts and rights activists, warned that the RSF’s seizure of Singa would likely have "severe humanitarian consequences," with potential future disruptions to large-scale agricultural programmes in the nearby provinces of Blue Nile, White Nile, and Jazira, once considered Sudan's breadbasket.