Jeddah Pulpit Resumptions: A Chance for Hope?

Over half a year into the conflict between the SAF and the RSF, Sudan is now the “most devastating humanitarian crisis of our recent history”, as humanitarian agencies told, with more than 5.79 million people displaced since mid-April, outbreaks of dengue fever, cholera, measles continue as confirmed reports of polio and monkeypox by the Federal Ministry of Health.

As clashes intensified since mid-October, the hopes for the Sudanese people have been at their lowest, especially with the escalations within the Middle East. Last Thursday, October 26, 2023, the infighting forces announced the resumptions of the peace talks suspended months ago by the facilitators after the SAF rep’s withdrawal.

While the talks were going, Sudan witnessed massive escalations as intense battles took place in various locations, including Khartoum and Nyala – South Darfur, in which the RSF captured the SAF’s 16th infantry division following a week-long battle.

On the other hand, a coalition of political parties, Juba Peace Agreement Factions, Civil Society Organizations, and National Personalities have established anti-war, pro-democracy talks in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. While their counterparts, mainly the Minawi and JEM-Jibril factions, joined with SAF reps in Juba, South Sudan, regarding stopping the war.

Sudanese people’s hopes once again are rising, closely watching and wishing for advancement in the talks. Overall, there are “hopes” around this round of negotiations.