United Nations and Swiss officials met in Geneva on Wednesday with representatives from nearly two dozen countries to advance efforts to end Sudan’s devastating war, now in its fourth year. However, neither of the two main warring parties attended the talks. The conflict, which erupted in April 2023 between Sudan’s military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has triggered mass displacement, widespread hunger and the collapse of essential services across the country.
Opening the meeting, Swiss State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Alexandre Fasel warned that the war had increasingly become a drone conflict, with civilians bearing much of the cost. He also highlighted famine-like conditions in Darfur and Kordofan, warning that the fighting was threatening stability in neighboring countries. The Geneva gathering marks the sixth meeting focused on finding a path towards a ceasefire and a peaceful political transition in Sudan. UN Special Envoy for Sudan Pekka Haavisto urged participants to remain committed to ending the fighting, easing civilian suffering and securing a future of peace, security and dignity in a united Sudan.
The war has created one of the world’s most severe humanitarian emergencies. The UN estimates that more than 34 million people need assistance, tens of thousands have been killed and around 11 million people have been displaced. Despite repeated diplomatic efforts, fighting continues, while civilians face mounting difficulties accessing food, healthcare and safe shelter. The absence of the Sudanese military and RSF from the latest discussions underscores the challenge of translating international diplomacy into a ceasefire on the ground.
