Following an invitation from the US to hold talks in Geneva aimed at establishing a ceasefire in Sudan, the Sudanese government has firmly stated that it will not engage in negotiations before the implementation of the Jeddah Declaration.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Sudanese Foreign Ministry expressed the government's willingness to participate in discussions to end the occupation of cities, villages, and homes by the paramilitary group RSF.

"The government renewed its readiness to engage in any negotiations to end the occupation of cities, villages, and citizens' homes by rebel groups," the statement read.

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The ministry also reiterated its commitment to cooperating with any party to safeguard the lives and dignity of Sudanese citizens, noting that the Jeddah Declaration remains the core framework for negotiations.

The Sudanese government made it clear that "any negotiations before the implementation of the Jeddah Declaration, which calls for comprehensive withdrawal and cessation of escalations, will not be tolerated" by the Sudanese people, who have endured "displacement, killings, rapes, ethnic cleansing, and looting of their properties."

The statement also mentioned the need for prior consultation "regarding the format and agenda of any negotiations, and the parties involved, noting that the Jeddah Summit and its agreements should remain the basis."

The Sudanese government has also requested a meeting with the US government to thoroughly prepare for peace negotiations to achieve the expected benefits for the Sudanese people, the statement concludes.

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Earlier today, Reuters reported that Sudanese army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan survived an assassination attempt on Tuesday after a drone strike targeted an eastern army base he was visiting.

A statement by the army said the attack occurred during a graduation ceremony at the Gibet army base, approximately 100 kilometers (62 miles) from Port Sudan, the army’s de facto capital in Sudan’s Red Sea state. The attack resulted in the death of five people.

The drone attack is the latest in a series targeting army locations in recent months and is the closest to Port Sudan.

That said, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have not claimed responsibility for any of these attacks and did not comment on yesterday’s incident.

The strike comes a day after the army-aligned foreign ministry conditionally accepted a US invitation for talks in Switzerland in August. In response, the RSF stated it would only negotiate with the army and not with the Islamists who constitute a significant part of the civil service.

According to the Sudan Tribune, the presidential guard team immediately evacuated Burhan to Port Sudan, the alternative administrative capital.