Sudan’s army has declined a U.S. request to return to peace negotiations with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The decision follows a conversation between Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
What Happened: Malik Agar, Burhan’s deputy on the Transitional Sovereign Council, stated, “We will not go to Jeddah and whoever wants us to should kill us in our country and take our bodies there,” Reuters reported on Wednesday.
Thousands have died and over 9 million people have been displaced since the conflict began in April 2023. The war erupted over a transition to free elections.
Intense fighting continued in northern Khartoum on Wednesday, with residents reporting heavy aerial bombing and artillery fire. On Tuesday, the State Department said Blinken discussed with Burhan the need to end the war and resume U.S. and Saudi-sponsored talks in Jeddah, which have stalled for months.
Sudan’s army-aligned foreign ministry welcomed an Egyptian invitation for a summit of civilian political groups but set conditions on the types of groups and foreign actors invited. Agar suggested that a separate summit for civilian political parties in Addis Ababa was a distraction from ending the war.
The RSF has expressed openness to talks, though neither side has adhered to previous commitments. Blinken also addressed the need to defuse hostilities in al-Fashir, North Darfur, where fighting has intensified since May 10, killing at least 145 people and displacing over 3,600 families, according to U.N. and Medecins Sans Frontieres reports.
The RSF has surrounded al-Fashir and raided civilian neighborhoods, while the army has conducted costly airstrikes to maintain its presence in Darfur. Residents report projectiles destroying homes and limited access to hospitals, water, and electricity.
Why It Matters: The ongoing conflict in Sudan has significant implications beyond its borders. The war is partly funded by the trade of gum arabic, a key ingredient in products like chocolate, soda, and chewing gum. This trade has become a financial lifeline for the warring factions.
Additionally, the humanitarian crisis has prompted international appeals for aid. Humanitarian organizations have pleaded with Elon Musk to use Starlink to maintain aid operations in Sudan. The conflict has severely disrupted access to essential services, exacerbating the suffering of the civilian population.
Image via Shutterstock
This story was generated using Benzinga Neuro and edited by Pooja Rajkumari
© 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
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