Following consultations held with the American side in Jeddah without achieving any breakthrough, the Sudanese delegation returns today, Sunday, to Port Sudan. The two sides did not agree on several issues, with the government delegation insisting on the non-participation of IGAD in the Geneva negotiations scheduled for August 14. A source told Al Arabiya/Al Hadath that the American delegation, led by envoy Tom Burnley, proposed that a high-ranking military officer or official lead the negotiations from the government side to facilitate and expedite the talks. However, the delegation responded that Sudan would participate with a governmental delegation, not a military one. Other sources indicated that technical consultations between international parties will begin on August 14 in Geneva, even if the military delegation does not participate.
It is noteworthy that these talks aim to end the ongoing war for the past 15 months between the Sudanese army and the rapid support forces. The Geneva talks, which the rapid support forces have agreed to attend, will be the first significant attempt in months to mediate between the warring parties in order to reach a resolution. Saudi Arabia and the United States have been attempting over the past months to bring the two sides together in negotiations aimed at achieving a ceasefire and discussing ways to reach a political solution, without success.
