Sudan’s army and the Paramilitary Rapid Support Forces have agreed to return to the US- and Saudi-convened negotiations in Jeddah on Thursday, after six months of war between the two forces.
The Sudanese army accepted the invitation on Wednesday as “negotiations are one of the means that may end the conflict,” but said that it would not stop fighting. The RSF also said it accepted the invitation.
“Both sides privately indicated that they are ready to resume talks,” a U.S. official said.
The talks will initially focus on humanitarian issues, ceasefires, and confidence-building measures in order to lay the groundwork for a negotiated solution to the conflict.
Civilian leaders, who have been holding organizing meetings in Addis Ababa this week, would not be participating in initial rounds but could be brought in later.
The talks come as the war in Sudan has taken its toll on the country and on both forces. The fighting has caused a humanitarian crisis, displacing almost 6 million people and killing thousands.
Both sides have been accused of human rights abuses, with the RSF facing accusations of an ethnic massacre in West Darfur.
The United States and Saudi Arabia suspended talks in June after numerous ceasefire violations. However, both sides have privately indicated that they are ready to resume talks.
According to Reuters, military sources say the army has struggled to make repairs to aging warplanes while the RSF has struggled to treat wounded soldiers. Both have had difficulty paying their exhausted forces, the sources said.
The African Union and regional body IGAD will be joining the Jeddah talks.
Despite the army’s willingness to talk, diplomats and Sudanese sources say Bashir loyalists, who have heavy influence in the military, reject negotiations and would prefer to continue to rebuild influenceas fighting continues.
