BRUSSELS
The sixth consultative meeting on enhancing peace in Sudan opened in Geneva on Wednesday, bringing together states and international organizations to strengthen coordination of diplomatic efforts, promote de-escalation and support an inclusive process to end the conflict.
Addressing the meeting, Swiss State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Alexandre Fasel said the war in Sudan had entered its fourth year, with famine-like conditions persisting in Darfur, Kordofan and other parts of the country.
Fasel warned that the conflict was increasingly threatening regional stability, with cross-border repercussions and spillovers into neighboring countries.
“The war is not only affecting people in Sudan; it is a threat to regional stability,” he said.
Describing the situation as one of the world’s worst humanitarian and protection crises, Fasel said more than 15 million people had been displaced inside Sudan and across its borders.
He stressed that civilians continued to bear the brunt of the conflict, emphasizing that their protection and humanitarian access must not be conditional on a ceasefire or political settlement.
Fasel said there was broad agreement that the conflict could not be resolved militarily, stressing the need for dialogue that is “Sudanese-driven and inclusive.”
Pekka Haavisto, the UN secretary-general’s personal envoy for Sudan, said the meeting provided an opportunity to assess collective efforts, address existing challenges and strengthen coordination among diplomatic initiatives.
He stressed that international efforts should complement one another and contribute to the shared objective of ending the war, easing the suffering of the Sudanese people and securing a future based on peace, security and dignity in a united Sudan.
Haavisto said the discussions on de-escalation would focus on identifying practical and mutually reinforcing measures to build confidence and create conditions conducive to a comprehensive ceasefire.
Addressing the regional dimension of the conflict, Haavisto said Sudan’s deep ties with neighboring countries meant that the consequences of the war extended beyond its borders.
Sudan has been engulfed in war between the army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since April 2023 over disagreements concerning the unification of the military establishment, leaving tens of thousands dead.
