Informed sources revealed to the Arab newspaper Asharq al-Awsat that the UN envoy to Sudan, Ramtane Lamamra, has begun arranging to send invitations to the Sudanese Army and the Rapid Support Forces to resume indirect talks in the Swiss city of Geneva in January. 

Sources said the group "Allied to Save Lives and Achieve Peace in Sudan" (ALPS) participated in recent days in new consultations with actors in Sudanese civil society to get their visions and observations and present them within the agenda of the upcoming talks.

The sources quoted Lamamra as saying that "the Rapid Support Forces agreed to resume the talks, while the army expressed a semi-initial approval to participate, without any official confirmation from its side so far," explaining that the UN special envoy "will personally lead the talks between the two parties to reach a binding agreement regarding the protection of civilians, which may open the door to understandings on other issues regarding hostilities," according to his expression.

According to the sources, the upcoming round of talks in January will focus on the issue of protecting civilians, through “agreeing on measures to cease hostilities at the national level as an entry point to a ceasefire,” according to what the sources told Asharq Al-Awsat.

The sources explained that Lamamra spoke about an upcoming visit to the city of Port Sudan in the coming few days, and that "it is scheduled that he will meet during it the leaders of the Transitional Sovereignty Council and senior officials in the Sudanese government," noting that "the UN envoy will, during his visit to Port Sudan, extend a direct invitation to the Sudanese government to participate in the talks."

The sources stated that Lamamra confirmed that the Geneva talks are based primarily on what was reached in the Jeddah Declaration between the two parties.

For his part, the official spokesman for the negotiating RSF delegation, Mohamed Al-Mukhtar Al-Nour, said, "We have not yet received an official invitation from the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ramtane Lamamra, regarding the planned talks," adding that if they are invited, they will respond to the invitation after studying it.

Russia vetoes UK-backed UNSC resolution for Sudan

Last month, the Russian Federation vetoed a controversial resolution backed by the United Kingdom on Sudan, in a meeting of the United Nations Security Council.  The draft, submitted by Sierra Leone and the United Kingdom, garnered support from 14 members but was vetoed by Moscow. 

Both the United States and the United Kingdom blasted Russia for vetoing the resolution, as the former claimed that Moscow went against the Sudanese government's will. 

The Sudanese Foreign Ministry released a statement, quoted by Reuters, which commended the Russian veto.  "The government of Sudan commends the Russian position, which came as an expression of ... respect for the sovereignty of states and international law, and support for the independence and unity of Sudan and its national institutions," the ministry stressed. 

Russia argued that the resolution, which aims to impose a ceasefire on all sides in Sudan and facilitate humanitarian aid, infringes on Sudan's sovereignty. 

According to watchdogs, the final draft of the resolution contained references to "parties to the conflict," equating between the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on one end and the Sudanese Armed Forces and authorities on the other. These references were made in relation to the facilitation of humanitarian aid assistance, cessation of hostilities, adherence to International Humanitarian Law, avoiding attacks on civilians, and preventing incidents of conflict-related sexual violence.