Sudan sends delegation to Jeddah for pre-Geneva talks with U.S.

August 9, 2024 (PORT SUDAN) – Sudan’s Sovereign Council said on Friday it has sent a delegation to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to consult with the United States on an upcoming invitation to participate in negotiations with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Geneva.

The delegation, headed by Minerals Minister Mohamed Bashir Abu Nommo, left for Jeddah this morning. Military sources told Sudan Tribune the Sudanese team has been authorized to discuss the agenda for the Geneva talks, the countries monitoring the negotiations, and potential monitors for any resulting agreement.

The fate and implementation of the Jeddah Agreement, a previous ceasefire deal that the U.S. State Department said would form the basis for the new talks, is a key priority for the Sudanese delegation.

Sources also said the delegation will object to a U.S. proposal to include the United Arab Emirates among the countries monitoring the negotiations. Sudan has reservations about the UAE’s role due to its perceived support for the RSF.

The RSF has confirmed to the U.S. that its delegation will be the same as in the previous Jeddah talks, and is ready to engage in “constructive and serious talks” in Geneva, an RSF media official told Sudan Tribune.

The U.S. has invited both the Sudanese army and the RSF to negotiations in Geneva on Aug. 14, co-hosted by Saudi Arabia and under international observation.

Sudan’s Sovereign Council said the move reflects the government’s commitment to achieving peace and stability.

The Sudanese government has previously set conditions for the talks, including prior consultation on the agenda and participants, and insists on the implementation of the Jeddah Declaration, which calls for the RSF’s withdrawal and cessation of expansion.

The Jeddah Declaration was signed in May but has seen repeated violations.