South Sudan welcomes U.S.-backed ceasefire talks in Switzerland

July 25, 2024 (JUBA) – South Sudan on Thursday welcomed U.S.-backed ceasefire talks in Switzerland between Sudan’s warring factions, saying an end to the conflict would save lives and prevent further destruction.

South Sudan’s foreign minister, Ramadan Mohamed Abdallah, said President Salva Kiir and his administration welcomed the talks, citing the war’s devastating impact, which has left millions facing starvation and displacement.

“We have never abandoned advocacy for peace in Sudan,” Abdallah said. “President Salva Kiir Mayardit has always advocated for a peaceful settlement of political issues through dialogue.”

The United States announced on Wednesday it had invited the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group to ceasefire talks in Geneva, Switzerland.

The talks aim to establish a nationwide ceasefire, enable humanitarian access, and develop a robust monitoring mechanism to ensure any agreement’s implementation.

South Sudan is among the countries most affected by the conflict in Sudan. The war has disrupted oil exports from South Sudan, which relies on pipelines through Sudan to reach international markets.

One of those pipelines, responsible for two-thirds of South Sudan’s oil exports, broke down in February and requires extensive repairs that cannot be carried out amid the ongoing fighting. This has deprived the South Sudanese government of crucial revenue, threatening to worsen chronic food shortages and fuel instability.

“Regional and global partners should prepare to send emergency relief to South Sudan as they redouble efforts to end the war to the north,” Abdallah said. “Hundreds of thousands have fled southward to a country that cannot feed those who already live there.”