No military solution in Sudan, says UN envoy

The United Nations envoy on Sudan's civil war asserted on Wednesday that there is no military resolution to the conflict, following international discussions aimed at enhancing coordination of peace initiatives. Representatives from 21 nations, five global organisations, the Quad, and UN chief Antonio Guterres' personal envoy attended the Sixth Consultative Meeting on Enhancing Coordination of Peace Initiatives and Efforts in Sudan at the UN headquarters in Geneva.

The war, pitting Sudan's army against the Rapid Support Forces, has resulted in the displacement of more than 13 million people, the deaths of over 200,000 individuals, and the emergence of the world's largest hunger crisis.

The UN envoy, Pekka Haavisto, emphasized during a press conference that the regular armed forces and the RSF continue to believe in a military victory. However, the international community insists that the solution must be achieved through diplomatic negotiations and discussions. One confidence-building measure proposed by the United Nations is the potential exchange of prisoners of war or detainees, as well as facilitating student exams.

These steps, while considered minor compared to the ongoing destruction, were deemed essential by Haavisto.

The conference, co-chaired by the UN and Switzerland, brought together representatives from Quad nations, the permanent members of the UN Security Council, and several Sudanese neighbours. Discussions covered three chapters: security, political issues, and the regional dimension. The attendees expressed grave concern over reports of atrocities and the intensification of drone warfare, which have caused immense suffering among civilians.

They rejected the formation of parallel governments in Sudan and urged foreign states to refrain from fueling the conflict through the provision of mercenaries, military equipment, drones, and financial support. The parties must now demonstrate concrete progress towards de-escalation and the protection of civilians, facilitate humanitarian assistance, preserve Sudan's unity, and support a credible civilian political process.