Sudanese delegation meets US mediators ahead of peace talks in Geneva

A Sudanese delegation has arrived in Saudi Arabia for talks with US mediators on conditions for the government's participation in ceasefire negotiations in Geneva next week.

According to Sudanese authorities: "The Sudanese government has decided to send a delegation led by the minister of minerals, Mohammed Bashir Abu Namo, to discuss with the United States its invitation for negotiations set to take place on August 14," said a government statement.

This comes as the United States invited Sudan's warring sides to hold ceasefire talks last month, more than a year after fighting broke out between the regular army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

The delegation arrived in the Saudi coastal city of Jeddah on Friday to "discuss the government conditions with American officials to take part in Geneva talks", a Sudanese diplomat based in the kingdom told the AFP news agency.

The RSF – vying for control of Sudan – swiftly accepted the US invitation.

'More discussions'

However, Sudan's foreign ministry, which is loyal to the army, said negotiations must be preceded by "more discussions".

Any peace initiative "must recognise, invite and consult the Sudanese state", the country's de facto ruler and army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan said in late July, referring to his government.

The Geneva talks will be co-hosted by Saudi Arabia and include the African Union, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and the United Nations as observers.


Read more on RFI English

Read also:
Famine and floods add to distress of Sudanese displaced by war
Sudan could soon have 10 million internally displaced people, UN agency says
Amnesty urges UN to extend Darfur arms embargo to all of Sudan