The key facts

  • The sixth consultative meeting on Sudan was held in Geneva: 21 countries and 5 international institutions discussed ceasefires, security and a political settlement.
  • The UN is working on a prisoner exchange and ensuring students' access to exams; Haavisto called these 'small steps'.
  • 34 million Sudanese depend on humanitarian aid — the largest humanitarian crisis in the world.

Diplomacy intensifies amid ongoing fighting

UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Sudan Pekka Haavisto said in Geneva on Wednesday that diplomatic efforts to end the civil war in Sudan are intensifying despite ongoing hostilities. He spoke to journalists after the sixth consultative meeting on Sudan, organized jointly by the UN and Switzerland. Answering an Anadolu question about concrete progress compared to previous meetings, Haavisto pointed to the growing engagement of the international community with Sudanese political forces, including a 'successful' visit to Khartoum in September and meetings with political groups, women's representatives and youth.

No military solution

Haavisto warned that some parties in Sudan still believe a military victory is possible. 'We, the international community, say that there is no military solution to the conflict in Sudan,' he stressed, noting the need for diplomatic negotiations. The UN has begun working on two confidence-building measures: a possible exchange of prisoners of war and detainees — both civilians and military personnel — and ensuring students' access to exams regardless of their place of residence. According to Haavisto, compared with the scale of the destruction caused by the conflict, these are only 'small steps'.

Coordination of the 'Quartet' and 'Quintet'

The two-day Geneva meeting brought together representatives of 21 countries and five international institutions to discuss security issues, humanitarian ceasefires, possible truces and political solutions. Haavisto highlighted the strengthened coordination between the 'Quartet' (the US, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Egypt) and the 'Quintet' (the African Union, IGAD, the League of Arab States, the EU and the UN), calling it 'perhaps the most important fact'. According to him, the discussions were aimed at linking security negotiations with political planning for the period after a possible ceasefire.

A Sudanese peace process under Sudanese leadership

Swiss Ambassador Tim Enderlin, head of the country's Foreign Ministry's peace and human rights division, also emphasized the need for coordinated international efforts and an inclusive peace process led by the Sudanese themselves. 'Over these two days we tried to develop coordinated efforts that will help create a peace process that will be inclusive, engaging the people of Sudan, where their voices will be heard,' he said, adding that the goal is a process that 'ultimately belongs to Sudan and is led by Sudan.' Enderlin warned that the consequences of the conflict extend beyond Sudan and affect neighboring countries.

The largest humanitarian crisis

Enderlin reported that 34 million people in Sudan depend on humanitarian aid and described the country as facing the largest humanitarian crisis in the world.