Statement on Geneva Negotiations and the Maneuvers of the Islamic Movement Elements within the Armed Forces

Republic of Sudan
Rapid Support Forces
Office of the Spokesperson

Statement on Geneva Negotiations and the Maneuvers of the Islamic Movement Elements within the Armed Forces

Since the outbreak of the war on April 15th last year, following the armed forces’ attack on the Rapid Support Forces in various parts of the capital, our forces have consistently responded positively to regional and international initiatives to stop the war and achieve peace, aiming to end the suffering of our people, who are paying a heavy price for the Islamists and their elements in the armed forces’ decision to ignite the flames of war.

In this regard, the Rapid Support Forces has seriously and sincerely engaged in the Jeddah negotiations, sponsored by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States of America, resulting in the signing of the Jeddah Declaration in May 2023 and the humanitarian commitments document in November 2023. The Islamic Movement and its leadership within the hijacked army have worked to undermine the negotiations regarding the ceasefire document by withdrawing from the Jeddah platform and the army chief seeking the mediation of IGAD.

Subsequently, the Rapid Support Forces engaged in negotiations in Manama, where a Declaration of Principles was initialed, laying the foundation for addressing various aspects of the crisis of the Sudanese state.

Despite the Rapid Support Forces’ cooperation and flexibility regarding the talks held in Jeddah and Manama, the leaders of the armed forces, under the direction and command of the Islamists who control its leadership, showed intransigence, indicating their disregard for the suffering of the Sudanese people, whose name they want to hijack, and whose representation they wish to claim. By doing so, the armed forces failed the negotiations held in Jeddah and Manama, aiming to ensure humanitarian access and ceasefire and pave the way for a comprehensive solution to the escalating Sudanese crisis.

The Rapid Support Forces continued with an open and positive attitude towards all emerging initiatives aiming to stop the war. The commander of the Rapid Support Forces accepted the IGAD’s invitation to its summit, which the army chief avoided attending, and announced acceptance of the humanitarian truce called by the Security Council last Ramadan, which the army rejected. Moreover, the Rapid Support Forces accepted the United Nations invitation for Geneva talks aiming to deliver humanitarian aid and enhance civilian protection. Finally, the RSF accepted U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s invitation to participate in the Geneva negotiations on August 14th, aiming for a comprehensive nationwide ceasefire, facilitating humanitarian access to all in need, and developing a robust monitoring and verification mechanism to ensure the implementation of any agreement reached.

Instead of agreeing to participate in the upcoming Geneva negotiations, the armed forces’ leadership, as usual, resorted to transparent maneuvers by placing obstacles intended to avoid participating in the talks aimed at a ceasefire and addressing the humanitarian crisis. The decision, announced today, was made in a meeting of the Islamic Movement, which has a vested interest in continuing the war, deluding itself that it could regain power.

In light of the position announced by the remnants of the old regime under the so-called Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the behest of the armed forces’ leadership, the Rapid Support Forces affirms the following:

• The Rapid Support Forces has not sought a specific platform, nor did it reject any platform to resolve the crisis and alleviate the suffering of the Sudanese people. It is fully prepared to participate in the negotiations the United States plans to organize in Geneva on August 14th.
• The flexibility of the Rapid Support Forces in all previous and upcoming negotiations and talks is not out of weakness or frailty, but a desire to extinguish the flames of the war that the old regime insists on continuing.
• The Rapid Support Forces will only negotiate with the armed forces and will not allow any other Sudanese institution to be involved in the negotiations or talks to stop the war and ensure humanitarian access. It reaffirms its position that there is no government in Sudan today due to the October 25th, 2021 coup and the subsequent constitutional breakdown caused by the April 15th war.
• Any ceasefire negotiations must be linked to a humanitarian process that alleviates civilian suffering and a political process, led by the democratic civil forces, that results in dismantling the Islamist system and addressing the root causes of Sudan’s wars and ultimately leads to building a new Sudan based on democracy, social justice, and equality without discrimination.

Spokesperson for the Rapid Support Forces
July 30, 2024