A National Appeal on the Geneva Negotiations Between the Rivals
By Fathi Al-Daw
In a seemingly well-prepared move, the American administration announced about two weeks ago that negotiations would take place between the two rivals in the foolish war, the army and the Rapid Support Forces, on August 14th in Geneva, Switzerland. Although the initiative was expected by many observers, it caught both rivals by surprise. Observers noted the confusion within the camps, especially the armys leadership, which showed mixed reactions ranging from eagerness to reluctance and has yet to officially confirm its participation as of this writing. Meanwhile, the Rapid Support Forces leadership immediately responded, as has been their habit with similar negotiation proposals, showing no regard for the ongoing violations they continue to commit without moral restraint, fundamentally contradicting their claims of seeking peace and negotiations.
The foremost question to be posed in this analysis is: What prompted the American administration to extend this invitation after such a long wait? What distinguishes this round from previous ones? Is there genuine intent, or is there something hidden behind the scenes? What will happen if one or both parties delay reaching the desired outcome that millions eagerly await? Is there a strong mechanism that was lacking in the Jeddah platform but is now ready to be employed in the current round? Some of these questions will be answered between the lines, while the rest will remain within the recesses of our minds, reflecting the absurdity of the war you know.
**First:** Unlike the usual in such matters, the American administration specified the time and place and restricted the invitation to the army rather than the government, contrary to the Jeddah platform. Moreover, they extended invitations to other parties as observers for the first time (Egypt, the UAE, and Qatar) alongside representatives from the European Union and IGAD, without consulting the two rivals, notifying them only afterward. This appears to be a deliberate move, either to constrain any potential maneuvers by either party or to avoid the shortcomings of the Jeddah platform, where negotiations stalled for months, leading to intensified accusations of the mediators failure and lack of an effective pressure mechanism.
**Second:** Whether this negligence was real or perceived, it led major powers to fill the void—Russia, China, Ukraine, and recently Iran, with others possibly behind the scenes. This rang the geopolitical alarm, especially near the ongoing brutal war in Gaza, threatening to spread to the oil fields, with 60% of oil exports to Europe passing through the Red Sea, along with 13% of global trade, valued at 2.5 trillion annually. Currently, the region is poised for escalation following the killing of Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.
**Third:** Related to the above, this step is not disconnected from the American elections and their accompanying repercussions. Hence, it can be said that the Sudanese issue has literally entered the corridors of the American elections. The high-level representation of the American administration (Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and UN Ambassador Linda Greenfield) signifies the serious message intended for the warring parties, which the Jeddah platform lacked (absence of a pressure mechanism and weak representation).
**In summary:** For all these reasons and more, it is evident that the mediators are determined to end this foolish war, especially since the conviction has spread beyond the Sudanese themselves to the entire world, confirming that it is a senseless war in every sense, supported only by those outcasts who ignited it and continue to beat its drums day and night to perpetuate it because its cessation means their "clinical death." The mediators insistence on the success of these negotiations stems from their belief that the conflicts spread beyond the geographical confines portends dire consequences due to the reasons mentioned. More importantly, the humanitarian aspect is critical, with international organization reports indicating a famine threatening 25 million people, half the population, a record number for a disaster.
In conclusion, we do not live on an isolated island; we are part of this world demographically and geographically, and thus it is natural for us to affect and be affected by others. This alone is reason enough for this war to stop immediately. Although we firmly believe that our issues and problems can only be resolved by Sudanese themselves, we should not act foolishly by rejecting the help of those who came to assist us in burying the wars corpse that has rotted and spread its stench far and wide. But how?
The direct answer lies in these mid-August negotiations. We have no choice but to support them by organizing a historic sit-in at the designated location in Geneva, so the world can see us and receive the message that we yearn for peace, security, and stability. This is our tried and tested civil weapon that we used to topple the tyrannical regime in April 2019, and it was not the first time. We have the will that will oust their remnants and consign them to the dustbin of history. We want to tell the world that our lives have been turned upside down since the birds of ill omen and bats of darkness descended upon us.
If we are sincere about stopping this war, let us seize this historic opportunity. We hope that those residing in Swiss cities and others in European countries who can reach Geneva will honor this compassionate homeland. By doing so, they will be paying a national debt. We need to innovate to attract attention, to tell the world, "Thank you for saving millions facing the specter of death by hunger and thirst." This is a heartfelt call from a heart torn with pain over what has befallen our gentle nation. Deliver it however you can, so the capable can fully support and participate until the world knows that our fate is not in the hands of these wicked people.
As for you, who are wallowing in our blood, drinking it insatiably, eating ill-gotten gains, preventing good, and committing evil, havent you had enough of the death mill and the innocent lives it has claimed? Havent you had your fill of our suffering and accumulated tragedies? What more do you want to inflict on this patient people? We have seen deaths flames hovering over our heads for sixteen months. We have endured oppression, injustice, and humiliation. We have seen corpses lying by the roadside, gnawed by stray dogs. We have buried family, loved ones, and friends in barren deserts without a final farewell. We have lost our dearest ones and endured our pain. We were once known for our compassionate hearts, but we have become hardened, killing each other. We were a country that fed the poor and sheltered the weak, but now we beg for food, and our children eat from the earths scraps, dying of hunger and thirst. Damn you!
**Final word:** Democracy must prevail, no matter how long it takes.
**#StopTheFoolishWar**
