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July 20, 2024 (Port Sudan) – The Sudanese government, after indirect talks with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), expressed its willingness to improve the humanitarian situation in the country based on the positive outcomes of the Geneva talks. However, it reiterated its call for the Rapid Support Forces to implement the Jeddah Humanitarian Agreement.
A government delegation led by Humanitarian Aid Commissioner Salwa Adam Baneya held talks with the RSF in Geneva from July 11 to 19, hosted by UN Special Envoy Ramtane Lamamra. Although no formal agreement was reached, the RSF unilaterally pledged to protect civilians and facilitate humanitarian access.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Baniya stressed the constructive nature of the talks and said: “The Geneva talks laid a good foundation for resolving the humanitarian crisis in Sudan.”
The humanitarian official detailed the active engagement of the government delegation, including technical discussions on international funding, assessments, aid priorities, and the logistics of delivering relief supplies. However, she reiterated the government’s position that discussions on civilian protection should continue within the Jeddah framework and stressed the importance of implementing the May 2023 Jeddah Declaration.
Furthermore, Baniya reiterated that Sudan remains committed to cooperating with the United Nations to alleviate the suffering of its people, stressing that such cooperation will be carried out within the framework of Sudan’s sovereignty and existing national humanitarian policy.
The statement expressed the government’s opposition to any parallel humanitarian structures and cited a letter from RSF leaders to the UN outlining commitments that its own relief agency would fulfil. The Sudan Relief and Humanitarian Operation (SARHO), established by General Hemetti in August 2023, operates in RSF-controlled areas, raising concerns about duplication of efforts.
Baniya noted that the Government had taken concrete actions to facilitate humanitarian work. In the past six months, they had issued more than 1,500 visas for aid workers and facilitated the movement of aid, including by waiving customs fees for about $360 million worth of aid. In addition, the authorities had facilitated the movement of hundreds of aid trucks, including those from Chad to North Darfur through the Tina checkpoint.
Lamamra acknowledged the talks as a positive first step in a complex process. He welcomed the unilateral commitments by Aid Without Borders but warned that they were not a formal agreement with the United Nations.
In the Jeddah Declaration of May 11, 2023, the two sides committed to a series of civilian protection measures, including ensuring safe passage for people fleeing conflict areas.
The warring parties further agreed to “take all feasible precautions to avoid and minimize harm to civilians and to evacuate urban centres, including civilian homes. For example, civilians should not be used as human shields”.
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