Sudan's Delicate Peace Talks: Government's Debates with U.S. and Egypt

Sudan's government will send a delegation to Cairo for discussions with U.S. and Egyptian officials on participation in peace talks to end a 16-month war. The army-led government has conditions, including the implementation of a Jeddah agreement and addressing food insecurity and accusations against the UAE.

Sudan's government has announced plans to dispatch a delegation to Cairo for discussions with U.S. and Egyptian officials, maintaining the possibility of engaging in peace talks aimed at concluding a 16-month war.

The army-led government, clashing with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) for national control, insists on prior execution of a Jeddah-traced agreement before attending peace talks in Switzerland. These U.S.-led talks, which the RSF will participate in, aim to halt the brutal conflict that erupted in April 2023 and tackle the severe humanitarian crises affecting half of Sudan's 50 million citizens.

A statement from the Transitional Sovereign Council clarified that the delegation decision followed interactions with the U.S. special envoy and Egypt, observing the talks. The focus is on the Jeddah deal, requiring RSF withdrawal from civilian zones. Meanwhile, army-preempted discussions included enabling an RSF-held border crossing for aid into Darfur after a phone conversation between army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

(With inputs from agencies.)