UN continues indirect talks in Geneva to broker ceasefire in Sudan

The United Nations continued indirect talks on Wednesday between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Geneva, Switzerland, aiming to reach agreements on a ceasefire, delivery of humanitarian aid, and protection of civilians in conflict areas.

Sources told Al-Sharq Al-Awsat outlet that the separate discussions, led by the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General, Ramtan Lamamra, with the RSF delegation, made some progress on these critical issues.

There was an in-depth discussion involving the Sudanese Relief and Humanitarian Operations Agency, affiliated with the Rapid Support Forces, focusing on the delivery of humanitarian aid and strengthening civilian protection.

According to the same sources, significant progress has been made in discussions between the UN and the RSF delegation, while talks continue.

The UN team's discussions with the Rapid Support Forces, according to the outlet, centered on opening humanitarian corridors, securing and protecting aid, and technical aspects related to these issues.

They also deliberated on the administrative and technical arrangements for the Sudanese Relief Agency to coordinate humanitarian work in areas controlled by the Rapid Support Forces.

UN spokeswoman Alessandra Velucci noted on Tuesday night that there have been numerous interactions between the Secretary-General's Personal Envoy for Sudan, Ramtan Lamamra, his team, and the two delegations over the weekend.

She highlighted that the teams have been heavily involved in discussions on humanitarian aid and civilian protection and that talks are ongoing this week.

The talks, which began last Thursday at the invitation of the UN envoy, were intended to address humanitarian aid and civilian protection.

The Sudanese army delegation was absent from the talks during the first three days, despite their arrival in Geneva.

The Sudanese government commented in a statement last Monday that the nature of the invitation referred to indirect discussions rather than a negotiation process.

They noted that their delegation had not received an agenda or program for the deliberations even days after arriving in Geneva.

The government stressed that it would not accept dealing with any alternative or parallel body on humanitarian relief other than the Government Humanitarian Aid Commission and the High Emergency Committees.

The Sudanese government delegation is headed by the Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid, Salwa Adam in Ni, and includes representatives from various ministries and humanitarian stakeholders.

The talks were designed to be indirect, with the UN team conducting separate discussions to reach a rapprochement between the parties on the humanitarian situation in the country.