Talks with RSF on transition to civilian rule in Sudan expected within weeks, says UN envoy

The United Nations intends to engage in discussions "before Christmas" with Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF) regarding the transition to civilian governance, according to a UN official. Pekka Haavisto, the UN special envoy for Sudan, stated that diplomatic momentum is robust to conclude the ongoing conflict despite other regional crises.

The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) chief, Gen Abdel Fattah Al Burhan, has consistently rejected ceasefire proposals, aiming to continue fighting until his adversaries are vanquished. However, the RSF and its commander, Gen Mohamed Dagalo - also known as Hemedti - have not yet unequivocally committed to the peace proposals on the table.

Recent reports from a UN fact-finding mission accusing both factions of committing atrocities, coupled with mounting US pressure, could create a window of opportunity for diplomatic efforts. During an interview at the Manama Dialogue annual security forum in Bahrain, Haavisto mentioned "positive meetings" with parties close to the SAF and an anti-war coalition led by former Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok.

The UN, alongside the European Union, African Union, Arab League, and Intergovernmental Authority on Development, is part of the Quintet group pushing for peace in Sudan. Despite these diplomatic strides, the situation on the ground is less hopeful, with drone attacks devastating civilian areas, including Abyei, Kordofan, and Darfur.

The UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, has condemned these attacks, which have also targeted civilian infrastructure such as water plants, humanitarian convoys, and hospitals. Moreover, UN-appointed investigators have warned that the Sudanese city of Al Obeid is under constant fear due to drone strikes and arrests and torture by the SAF.

Evidence has emerged that the SAF not only utilized chemical weapons during the civil war but also concealed a secret stockpile. The conflict, which began in April 2023, has resulted in a humanitarian crisis with over 14 million internally displaced people and nearly 20 million facing hunger, according to the UN World Food Programme.

The US, advocating for an arms embargo encompassing Sudan, asserts that there is "no future" for the two warring generals in the country's political leadership.