There is no military solution to the civil war tearing Sudan apart, the United Nations envoy on the conflict insisted on Wednesday following international talks on peace efforts.
A total of 21 countries and five international organisations gathered at the UN headquarters in Geneva for the so-called Sixth Consultative Meeting on Enhancing Coordination of Peace Initiatives and Efforts in Sudan.
The two warring parties were not represented.
The war between Sudan’s army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces has killed more than 200,000 people, aid workers estimate, displaced more than 13 million and created the world’s largest hunger and displacement crises.
Talks co-chair Pekka Haavisto, UN chief Antonio Guterres’ personal envoy for Sudan, said the regular armed forces and the RSF still believed in a military victory in the war.
“We as the international community are saying that there is no military solution to the conflict in Sudan,” the former Finnish foreign minister told a press conference after the talks concluded.
“The solution has to be found from diplomatic talks and discussions.
“One small step that the United Nations has been taking is trying to introduce so-called confidence-building measures: some steps that both parties can agree.”
The gathering included the Quad (Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the US and the UAE), the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, and several of Sudan’s neighbours, such as Ethiopia and Chad.
The meeting aimed to align mediation initiatives, promote de-escalation and a negotiated political solution, and bolster humanitarian access.
The talks focused on three chapters: the security situation, political issues and the regional dimension to the war.
A seventh such meeting is planned, though no date or venue has been set.
