Talks to reach ceasefire in Sudan have resumed, US says

State Department says talks aimed at enabling aid delivery and reaching permanent end to hostilities

Millions of Sudanese civilians have fled to Chad and other neighbouring countries. Reuters

Talks aimed at reaching a ceasefire between the Sudanese armed forces and the Rapid Support Forces paramilitary have reconvened, in a renewed attempt to resolve the months-long war, the US State Department said on Sunday.

The talks, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, have a narrow set of objectives, the State Department said, and will be aimed at enabling the delivery of humanitarian assistance, establishing ceasefires and building towards a “permanent cessation of hostilities”.

“The talks will not address broader political issues,” the State Department said.

The war in Sudan, which began six months ago, has devastated much of the capital Khartoum and spread to nearby cities, causing a humanitarian crisis of “epic proportions", according to the UN.

“There is no acceptable military solution to this conflict,” the State Department said.

“We call upon the SAF and RSF to approach the talks constructively, with the imperative to save lives, reduce the fighting and create a path to a negotiated exit from the conflict.”

Nearly 10,000 people have been killed and 5.6 million have fled to neighbouring countries amid fighting between the army, led by Gen Abdel Fattah Al Burhan, and the RSF, commanded by Gen Mohamed Dagalo.