UN-brokered Sudan talks begin with 1 party failing to appear

GENEVA

In order to facilitate aid delivery, protect civilians and reach a possible cease-fire, Sudan's warring parties are in Geneva for UN-led talks, however, only one side showed up for the start of discussions on Thursday, the UN said on Friday.

"One of the two delegations didn't show up," Alessandra Vellucci, the international body's director of information services, confirmed during a UN press briefing in Geneva.

Vellucci did not share the details of whether it was the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) or Rapid Support Forces (RSF) who did not attend.

However, she ensured that both parties were now present in Geneva, and "the engagements are continuing today."

Ramtane Lamamra, UN secretary-general's personal envoy for Sudan, is convening these talks in "proximity format, she added, meaning Lamamra is separately engaging with each delegation, supported by the UN integrated technical team.

Vellucci noted that it is not possible to update about what is happening on the second day but added: "We urge both parties to participate in the discussions today."

"The humanitarian situation in Sudan is deteriorating every day, with a devastating impact on the civilian population," she said. "We hope the Sudanese delegations will rise to the challenge and engage in constructive discussions with the personal envoy for the sake of the Sudanese people."

Asked how long the talks were expected to last, she said: "We will see how long it will last."

The conflict in Sudan broke out in April 2023, when army Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo disagreed on whether the RSF should be integrated into the military.

The conflict has killed nearly 16,000 people, displaced millions, and caused a devastating humanitarian crisis in the country, according to UN figures.