Ramtane Lamamra rules out military solution to Sudan conflict

Ramtane Lamamra, the United Nations personal envoy for Sudan, has declared that there is no military solution to the country’s devastating civil war. Speaking at a high-level international meeting in Geneva, Lamamra emphasized that the conflict, which has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives, can only be resolved through diplomatic engagement and a coordinated peace process. The gathering brought together representatives from 21 nations and five international organizations to address the escalating humanitarian crisis and the urgent need for a sustainable ceasefire between the warring factions.

The civil war, primarily fought between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has resulted in a staggering humanitarian toll. According to data shared at the Geneva meeting, more than 200,000 people have been killed since the conflict began, and over 13 million individuals have been forced to flee their homes. This displacement has triggered one of the world’s most severe food security crises, leaving millions of Sudanese civilians facing acute hunger and limited access to essential services. Participants at the meeting condemned the ongoing atrocities and stressed the importance of protecting non-combatants caught in the crossfire.

To pave the way for a more formal peace process, the international delegates focused on implementing immediate confidence-building measures. These proposals include potential prisoner exchanges and initiatives to facilitate educational assessments for students whose schooling has been interrupted by the violence. The meeting also addressed political stability, with attendees explicitly rejecting the establishment of parallel governments in Sudan. Instead, the focus remained on a unified approach that ensures the delivery of humanitarian aid to regions most affected by the fighting.

The Geneva talks represent a renewed effort to align various international peace initiatives into a single, cohesive diplomatic strategy. Lamamra and the participating organizations underscored that a fragmented approach would only prolong the suffering of the Sudanese people. Moving forward, the United Nations and its partners aim to maintain pressure on both the army and the RSF to return to the negotiating table, with the ultimate goal of restoring civil order and ending the displacement crisis that has destabilized the broader region.