Geneva Mediators: Army and Militias Agree to Provide Two Safe Corridors for Aid

The final statement from the Switzerland negotiations announced that the Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have agreed to provide two safe corridors for humanitarian aid to alleviate the effects of the ongoing war between them for nearly a year and a half.

The mediating countries confirmed in the final statement on Friday that they had secured guarantees from both parties to provide safe and unhindered access through two main arteries: the western border via the Adré crossing in the Darfur region and the Dabba Road, which allows access to the north and west from Port Sudan. The mediators confirmed that they obtained a commitment from the RSF to issue leadership directives to all their fighters to refrain from committing violations, including violence against women or children, using starvation or checkpoints for exploitation, and attacks on humanitarian operations and essential services such as agricultural fields, farmers, and harvest-related activities.

 They indicated that securing these routes would expand humanitarian access to about 20 million Sudanese at risk, calling on all parties to ensure the continued and expedited flow of this urgent aid.

 The final statement of the talks, sponsored by the United States, along with Saudi Arabia and Switzerland, with participation from the African Union, Egypt, and the UAE, emphasized that food and famine cannot be used as a weapon in war.

 The statement expressed appreciation for the RSF’s decision to send a high-level delegation to Switzerland, despite the ongoing virtual contact with the Sudanese Armed Forces. However, the mediators regretted the latter’s decision not to attend, which limited the mediation’s ability to make further substantial progress on key issues, particularly the cessation of hostilities.

 The statement mentioned that the mediating countries received commitments to improve the protection of civilians and ensure compliance with the “Jeddah Declaration” and any future agreements between the warring parties.

 The mediators confirmed they would remain open to the participation of both parties in future rounds of talks to urgently alleviate the suffering of the Sudanese people, with a commitment to responding to the Sudanese people’s call for a cessation of hostilities, securing humanitarian aid access to every state across the country, and negotiating an immediate ceasefire in areas such as El Fasher, Khartoum, and Sennar.