The United Nations envoy to Sudan, Volker Perthes, reported on Saturday that both warring parties in the country are more open to negotiations and recognized that the conflict, which erupted two weeks ago, cannot continue. In an interview with Reuters, Perthes noted that both the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces have nominated representatives for talks, proposed to be held either in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, or in Juba, South Sudan. However, he added, "There is a practical question about whether they can actually go to either place to sit down together."
He mentioned that no timeline has been set for the talks, pointing out that "both believe they will win, but both are somewhat more open to negotiations." Perthes indicated that while both sides issue statements insisting the other must "surrender or die," they are also saying, "Okay, we are accepting... some form of talks."
He continued that the urgent task is to develop a monitoring mechanism to implement the ceasefires that both parties have agreed upon multiple times but have failed to stop the fighting. Sounds of airstrikes, anti-aircraft fire, and artillery shells were heard in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, early on Saturday morning, as black smoke rose over parts of the city with the fighting entering its third week.
