Grapevine

Paramilitary RSF agrees to US-mediated talks on Sudan war

The US has invited the warring sides to Switzerland as efforts mount again to end brutal conflict.

The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has said it is ready to participate after the United States invited the warring sides in Sudan to mediated ceasefire talks.

RSF leader Mohammed Hamdan “Hemedti” Dagalo said early on Wednesday that the paramilitary group will participate. The US on Tuesday invited the RSF and Sudanese army to meet for talks in Switzerland on August 14, as efforts to end the conflict mount.

The US announced that the negotiations will be co-hosted by Saudi Arabia and include the African Union, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and the United Nations as observers.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement: “The talks in Switzerland aim to reach a nationwide cessation of violence, enabling humanitarian access to all those in need, and develop a robust monitoring and verification mechanism to ensure implementation of any agreement.”