Sudan’s de facto leader, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, has firmly rejected participating in peace negotiations with rival paramilitary forces in Switzerland, declaring his intent to “fight for 100 years” instead.
Speaking in Port Sudan on Saturday, al-Burhan dismissed any prospects of attending the talks in Geneva, stating, “We will not go to Geneva… we will fight for 100 years.”
The United States initiated discussions in Switzerland on August 14, aiming to alleviate human suffering and establish a lasting ceasefire amid the ongoing conflict.
Although the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) attended the talks, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) expressed dissatisfaction with the format and chose not to participate in person, maintaining only telephone contact with the mediators.
These negotiations were co-hosted by Saudi Arabia and Switzerland, with involvement from the African Union, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Nations, collectively known as the Aligned for Advancing Lifesaving and Peace in Sudan Group (ALPS).
While the talks concluded without a ceasefire agreement, progress was made in securing aid access along two critical routes into the war-torn country.
The power struggle between the SAF and RSF, which escalated into full-scale conflict in April 2023, has significantly worsened the humanitarian crisis in Sudan.
Estimates suggest that the conflict has resulted in the deaths of at least 15,500 people, with some sources indicating figures as high as 150,000.
The ongoing violence has displaced millions, exacerbating the already dire conditions in a country where nearly 25 million people—more than half the population—now require humanitarian assistance.
Prior to the conflict, Sudan was already grappling with severe humanitarian challenges due to political instability, economic pressures, and environmental shocks.
The outbreak of violence has further restricted humanitarian access, making it increasingly difficult to deliver essential aid to those in need.
YOU MAY ALSO READ: US to send 24 additional armored vehicles to Kenyan forces leading Haiti security mission