Sudan: Paramilitary Chief to Attend US-Mediated Cease-Fire Talks
The Facts
The leader of Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), General Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, announced on Wednesday that he will attend the US-mediated cease-fire talks in Switzerland on Aug. 14.
Dagalo reportedly "welcomed" the invitation extended by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and confirmed the RSF's "participation in the upcoming ceasefire talks" with the Sudanese military under the command of army chief Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan.
The Spin
Narrative A
The development that Dagalo accepted the invitation to fresh peace to create a space for a political process is a new glimmer of hope for the forgotten war in Sudan. It's particularly encouraging that the UN Security Council backs the US-mediated talks in a rare and significant agreement among its members. Moreover, the rapid geopolitical developments in the Red Sea and the wider region are generating additional momentum. Now, it's up to the regular Sudanese army to prove its will for peace.
Narrative B
The latest Saudi-backed US initiative only sounds encouraging on the surface. While the Saudis are now appearing to be a force for peace, Riyadh is fueling the conflict by supplying weapons, just like its rival, the UAE. Though they're backing the warring parties, both US allies are primarily concerned with controlling Sudan's resources, energy, and logistical gateways. The geopolitical dimension and interests of the various external players make it unlikely that the new talks will achieve peace.