Sudan's Burhan meets un envoy for peace talks in Port Sudan

Sudan's transitional leader, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, held discussions with the UN Secretary-General's personal envoy, Ramtane Lamamra, to coordinate international efforts for peace in the conflict-ravaged nation. The meeting in Port Sudan, the current seat of government, centered on enhancing collaboration between Sudan and the United Nations to halt the ongoing war and address the dire humanitarian situation.

A Commitment to Peace and Cooperation

According to a statement from the Sovereignty Council, General al-Burhan expressed his administration's full readiness to deepen its partnership with the UN and its various agencies. He emphasized the government's goal to "establish peace across the country," aligning with what he described as the aspirations of the Sudanese people. The meeting underscores a continued diplomatic push to find a resolution to the brutal conflict that erupted in April 2023 between the national army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

The Staggering Humanitarian Toll

The high-level talks occur against a backdrop of a catastrophic humanitarian emergency. Recent UN data indicates the nearly year-long conflict has pushed over 21 million people into severe hunger. The war has resulted in thousands of deaths and displaced millions from their homes, creating one of the world's most severe displacement crises. Previous mediation attempts by regional and international bodies have so far failed to produce a lasting ceasefire.

Diverging Paths to a Truce

The path to peace remains fraught with disagreement. While the RSF commander, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, has unilaterally declared a truce, his forces have simultaneously expanded territorial control. A proposed peace plan from the Quad—comprising the US, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the UAE—suggested a humanitarian truce leading to a civilian-led transition. However, General al-Burhan has rejected this initiative, arguing it would dismantle the state's formal military and security institutions while leaving the RSF in control of seized territories. The Sudanese government maintains it is open to negotiations based on its own roadmap, which demands the RSF's withdrawal from occupied urban and civilian areas.