Sudan’s army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have expressed willingness to pursue peaceful solutions to the conflict that has persisted for over 17 months, responding to U.S. President Joe Biden’s call for the warring parties to re-engage in dialogue.
On Wednesday, Army Chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan stated, “The Sudanese government remains open to all constructive efforts aimed at ending the war.” RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo echoed this sentiment early on Thursday, saying, “We reaffirm our commitment to ceasefire negotiations. We believe that the path to peace lies in dialogue, not random violence, and we will continue to engage in peace processes to secure a future free from fear and suffering for all Sudanese civilians,” Dagalo posted on X.
Despite their statements, both leaders continued to blame each other for failing to resolve the conflict, which has claimed more than 12,000 lives since it erupted in April 2023, accusing one another of committing atrocities. Neither outlined concrete steps towards a peaceful resolution.
The conflict began when tensions between the army and the RSF, who had previously shared power following a coup, escalated into open warfare. U.S.-led mediators reported last month that they had secured commitments from both parties during talks in Switzerland to improve humanitarian access. However, the absence of the Sudanese army from the discussions had stalled progress.
“We stand ready to work with all international partners in pursuit of a peaceful resolution that alleviates the suffering of our people and sets Sudan on a path towards security, stability, the rule of law, and the democratic transfer of power,” Burhan, the army chief, said in a statement.
