The US capital was scheduled to host a series of indirect talks on Thursday between representatives of the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, under the auspices of the US State Department.
A senior US source told Asharq Al-Awsat that the Deputy Secretary of State, along with regional mediators, will conduct separate meetings with each side of Sudan’s conflict.
The discussions aim to pave the way for an upcoming meeting of the “International Quartet” in Washington later this month. The Quartet comprises the United States, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Egypt.
Last month, the Quartet proposed a roadmap to halt the war in Sudan, which erupted in mid-April 2023 and has killed thousands while displacing millions.
The Quartet’s plan called for an end to hostilities and an alleviation of the suffering of the Sudanese people, with a clear, structured timeline.
Its statement recommended a three-month humanitarian ceasefire, followed by a permanent ceasefire to initiate the political process, and stressed the formation of an independent civilian government within nine months of the permanent truce.
The statement also underscored that Sudan’s future cannot be dictated by violent extremist groups linked directly or indirectly to the Muslim Brotherhood, which it accused of destabilizing the country.
The Quartet warned that external support to either side in the conflict prolongs the war and undermines regional stability.
Sudanese army commander General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan has set conditions for any future peace negotiations, particularly regarding the roadmap proposed by the Quartet.
Speaking in Atbara, in the Northern Nile state, last Sunday, Burhan said: “We will not negotiate with any party, and no one can impose peace, a government, or individuals whom the people have rejected.”
At the same time, he welcomed the Quartet’s statement, expressing readiness for any negotiations that would ensure “the end of the rebellion.” He added that the army “will not back down from its pledge to the people.
The Quartet or others, whoever seeks to negotiate with us in a way that restores Sudan’s dignity and unity and removes any threat of fragmentation, we will move forward with them.”
