Humanitirian Issuse in Geneva

In a surprising move, the Sudanese government said that its delegation to the Geneva consultations on the humanitarian situation in Sudan agreed to start indirect discussions with the Rapid Support Forces under the auspices of the United Nations in Hanif to discuss humanitarian issues.

Last week, Ramtane Lamamra, the personal envoy of the UN Secretary-General to Sudan, asked the commanders of the army and the Rapid Support to send two delegations to Switzerland to begin indirect talks on protecting civilians and facilitating the arrival of aid to those affected by the fighting under the auspices of the United Nations.

Government spokesman and Minister of Information, Graham Abdelkader, said in a press statement that the government agreed to participate in indirect deliberations in the Swiss city of Geneva regarding the humanitarian situation, in response to the initiative of the Personal Representative of the Secretary-General.

He pointed out that “despite the nature of the invitation submitted by the Personal Envoy, which refers to indirect discussions and not a negotiation process, the delegation of the Government of Sudan, a few days after its arrival in Geneva, did not receive any agenda or program for these deliberations.”

He added: “The delegation was asked to go to the Palais des Congrès in Geneva, contrary to the indirect nature of the discussions, something that the government delegation did not see as calling for, and contradicts the understanding about the lack of media publicity for these discussions, which was requested by the personal representative of the Secretary-General.”

The minister explained that the government does not see a need to establish a new mediation platform, and adheres to the Jeddah platform and its pledges, and the necessity of implementing those pledges that were made.

He stressed that the Sudanese government refuses to deal with any alternative or parallel body regarding humanitarian relief, in contrast to the relevant government entity, which is the Humanitarian Aid Commission and the Supreme Committee for Humanitarian Emergencies.

He reaffirmed Sudan's commitment to positive cooperation with the United Nations in everything that would alleviate the suffering of the Sudanese people, and to reach a common vision regarding delivering relief to the needy and displaced people in the areas that were affected directly by the repeated and deliberate attacks of the Rapid Support militia.

He pointed out the Sudanese government's keenness to deliver humanitarian aid to Sudanese citizens in the areas where the Rapid Support Militia is present, explaining that the authorities facilitated the entry of more than 460 humanitarian relief trucks through the Al-Tina crossing.