UN, U.S. warn of full-scale war in Sudan, seek end to conflict…

United Nations (UN) has warned that Sudan is on the brink of a full-scale civil war, as Egypt readies to host a summit on Thursday, July 13, to discuss ways to end the 12-week conflict between rival Sudanese military factions.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he remained “deeply concerned that the ongoing war between the armed forces has pushed Sudan to the brink of a full-scale civil war, potentially destabilising the entire region.”

The fighting that erupted on April 15 in Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, has driven more than 2.9 million people from their homes, including almost 700,000, who have fled to neighbouring countries, many of which are struggling with poverty and the impact of their own internal conflicts.

The summit in Cairo will aim to “develop effective mechanisms” with neighbouring states to settle the conflict peacefully, in coordination with other regional or international efforts, Egypt’s presidency said in a statement yesterday.

Diplomatic efforts to halt fighting between Sudan’s army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary have, so far, proved ineffective, with competing initiatives creating confusion over how the warring parties might be brought to negotiate.

Neither Egypt, which is seen as the Sudanese army’s most important foreign ally, nor the United Arab Emirates, which has had close ties to the RSF, has, so far, played a prominent public role.

The two countries were also not involved in talks in Jeddah, led by the United States and Saudi Arabia that adjourned last month after failing to secure a lasting ceasefire.

Sudanese delegations, including from civilian parties that shared power with the army and RSF after the overthrow of former President Omar al-Bashir, four years ago, are expected to meet today in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, for exploratory talks.