The United States announced Tuesday that it has invited the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces to peace talks in Switzerland in August to end the war in Sudan. The talks, which are also sponsored by Saudi Arabia, will include the African Union, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and the United Nations as an observer.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement that Washington "invited the Sudanese Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces to participate in ceasefire talks, mediated by the United States, beginning August 14 in Switzerland." Blinken explained that they "aimed to achieve a nationwide cessation of violence, allow humanitarian assistance to reach all those in need, and establish a robust monitoring and verification mechanism to ensure implementation of any agreement."
The commander of Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces welcomed the US invitation late Tuesday. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, said on the X platform that he “welcomes” the invitation from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, adding, “I announce our participation in the upcoming ceasefire talks on August 14, 2024 in Switzerland.”
Sudan has been witnessing a war between the army led by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the Rapid Support Forces led by Hemedti since April 2023. The conflict has killed tens of thousands and caused a major humanitarian crisis.