In Sudan, 21 countries push for an immediate humanitarian truce
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Radio Dabanga
At a meeting in Geneva involving 21 countries, the United Nations secretary-general’s personal envoy for Sudan, Pekka Haavisto, cited prisoner exchanges and coordination of school examinations as immediate confidence-building measures. The Quad — Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and the United States — wants a humanitarian truce paving the way for a permanent ceasefire, according to participants in the discussions.
At a meeting in Geneva involving 21 countries, representatives called for immediate confidence-building measures between the parties at war in Sudan, including prisoner exchanges and coordination on secondary school-leaving examinations, Radio Dabanga reports. The aim is to promote a humanitarian truce and pave the way for a permanent ceasefire.
Pekka Haavisto, the personal envoy of the United Nations secretary-general for Sudan, cited these two measures as possible first steps. Discussions by the Quad — Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and the United States — also addressed humanitarian access and support for the Quintet’s work towards an inclusive dialogue. The four countries believe that no military solution can end the conflict.
Massad Boulos, the US special envoy for African and Arab affairs, met Saudi officials to discuss reviving the Quad’s efforts. Political analyst Mohamed Torshin described the Geneva meeting as a decisive step and said that implementing the proposed measures could lead to a three-month truce, followed by a complete cessation of hostilities and a military withdrawal.
The meeting comes after 27 delegations gathered in Geneva on 21 October to coordinate peace efforts in Sudan. Sudanese civilian forces had previously called for an immediate truce on 12 October.
