In the run-up to peace talks on Sudan

“In the face of peace initiatives that aren’t leading to any changes, the people of Sudan are increasingly losing hope,” warned Sarah Reinke, head of human rights work at the Society for Threatened Peoples (STP), in the run-up to the upcoming peace talks in Geneva (August 14). They are part of a series of efforts by various mediators who have so far failed to bring about a lasting ceasefire in Sudan. Not even an agreement on safe escape routes and access for urgently needed humanitarian aid has been reached.

“Also, despite considerable efforts by the United States, the fact that it is still unclear whether representatives of the Sudanese Army will take part in the peace negotiations further reduces the chances of success,” Reinke said. “What else has to happen, how many children will have to starve, how many people will have to die, and how many cities still have to be destroyed before the Sudanese warlords are forced to at least agree to a ceasefire,” the human rights activist stated.

For months, humanitarian and human rights organizations have been calling on international politicians to organize a concerted negotiation process in order to build up real pressure. “People in Sudan are getting the impression that negotiators from the warring parties are participating in the talks merely as a formality to buy more time on the battlefield,” Reinke said. “The humanitarian situation in the region is catastrophic. More than 775,000 people are at acute risk of starvation. Now, the negotiations must focus on helping them and on ending the famine,” she added.  

Last week, aid organizations had published pictures of starving children in the Zamzam refugee camp. Zamzam is the largest refugee camp in Sudan. A total number of 300,000 people lived there in April – but now it’s likely up to 800,000. The camp is located to the south of El Fasher, the last provincial capital that has not yet been occupied by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). According to local reports, heavy fighting broke out again in El Fasher last Saturday (10 August). Members of the RSF are said to have tried to take the city for good. They were prevented from doing so by self-defense forces.