Peace talks in Sudan are starting despite the military not showing up

New peace talks aimed at ending Sudan’s 16-month war have begun despite one of the warring parties – the army – refusing to attend.

The US, which is driving the talks, has insisted that the event go ahead even if the millions suffering in Sudan “can’t wait”.

The fighting between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has killed thousands of people, and displaced around 10 million people from their homes.

The army dashed hopes of a ceasefire by boycotting Wednesday’s talks, saying it would not come as the RSF had not done “what was agreed” in Saudi Arabia last year.

The RSF did not meet key conditions of the Jeddah Declaration, such as withdrawing its troops from civilian homes and public facilities, the military said.

In a statement on social media X, RSF said it had arrived in the Swiss city of Geneva to hold talks and called on the military to “commit to fulfilling the democratic aspirations of the Sudanese people”.

The army also rejected the talks as it opposes the presence as an observer of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which it accuses of supporting the RSF.

Alongside the UAE, delegates representing the US, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the African Union and the United Nations.

According to the UN’s migration agency, tens of thousands of preventable deaths are imminent in Sudan if the conflict and aid restrictions continue.

The United States says the crisis has reached an unprecedented level as millions face hunger and displacement.