CAIRO, July 6 (Reuters) – Rival Sudanese political groups convened in Cairo on Saturday for reconciliation talks, marking the first such meeting since conflict erupted in April 2023. Despite the historic gathering, expectations for a swift resolution to the war remain low.
The Democratic Bloc, aligned with the army, declined joint sessions with the Taqaddum faction, which it accuses of sympathizing with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Notably, neither the army nor the RSF participated in the talks. The conflict has displaced nearly 10 million people and triggered warnings of famine and ethnically-driven violence, primarily attributed to the RSF, which recently escalated its campaign in Sennar state.
Army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan firmly stated the military would not negotiate with RSF or its supporters. “The deteriorating humanitarian situation and catastrophic consequences compel immediate and sustainable efforts to halt military operations,” emphasized Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty.
Previous negotiations between the army and RSF, mediated by the U.S. and Saudi Arabia in Jeddah, collapsed late last year. Taqaddum, a coalition of pro-democracy parties, armed groups, and civil society, has called for an end to the conflict. Conversely, the army-aligned Democratic Bloc includes several armed group leaders engaged in the fighting.
Despite Egypt’s diplomatic efforts, delegates remained divided, sitting on opposite sides of the hall. The factions agreed to form a subcommittee to draft a final communique. Democratic Bloc leader Jibril Ibrahim advised against high expectations from the meeting, citing the current ground realities. He insisted that peace was unattainable without RSF withdrawal from civilian areas and cessation of UAE’s alleged support to the RSF, claims the UAE denies.
Former Prime Minister and Taqaddum head Abdalla Hamdok denied connections to the RSF, awaiting the army’s agreement to dialogue. “Ending such a deep crisis in one meeting is unrealistic. Patience and building on positive outcomes are essential,” Hamdok told Reuters. U.S. Special Envoy Tom Perriello expressed hope that Saturday’s momentum would continue into forthcoming African Union-led talks. (Reporting by Nafisa Eltahir; Editing by Aidan Lewis, Alexandra Hudson)
Original Story https://www.livemint.com/news/sudanese-political-factions-meet-in-cairo-with-little-prospect-of-peace-11720294068873.html
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