Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) announced its initial consent to an invitation by the United Nations to hold indirect talks with the Sudanese army over the humanitarian situation in the country.
The negotiations are expected to take place next week in Geneva, but the army made no statement on the matter.
A member of the RSF negotiating team told Asharq Al-Awsat that the forces welcomed the invitation of UN Special Envoy Ramtane Lamamra to hold a series of indirect discussions over the humanitarian conditions in the country.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, stressed that the RSF “accepted, in principle, any call that aims to alleviate the sufferings of the Sudanese people,” without taking into account statements made by Army Commander Abdel Fattah al-Burhan about his rejection to talks that would lead to ending the war.
Speaking on Tuesday in a military air base, Al-Burhan said that his army would not succumb to any blackmail through negotiations that put its authority and will at stake and do not meet the people’s aspirations.
Last week, the UN called on the Sudanese army and the RSF to hold indirect talks, to review the means to facilitate the access of aid to the war-stricken population and protect civilians.
Lamamra addressed a letter to Burhan, on June 26, in which he proposed sending a high-raking delegation to Geneva on July 10 to start discussions with the RSF, under UN auspices.
His step comes in line with UN Security Council Resolution 2736, which “calls on the parties to the conflict to allow and facilitate the rapid, safe, unhindered and sustained passage of humanitarian relief for civilians in need.”
