Rhino: Agencies – A number of Sudanese gathered in a square opposite the UN headquarters in Geneva on Thursday, demanding an end to the war and allowing the return of displaced people, refugees and displaced persons to their cities and villages.

The talks are scheduled to last for ten days, according to the US special envoy for Sudan, Tom Perriello

Observers considered that the time period granted is an opportunity for the de facto government to retract its decision not to engage in the talks.

This comes at a time when Sudan is suffering from a humanitarian catastrophe with several crises that could lead to the death of thousands of civilians, as several United Nations organizations warned this week.

The United States, which is sponsoring the talks, has kept the venue secret for security reasons.

The talks began with the aim of establishing a ceasefire in Sudan, although representatives of the Sudanese military were absent from the negotiating table.

A spokesperson for the US mission said there was no change in the absence of military representatives at the talks.

For his part, the US Special Envoy for Sudan, Tom Perriello, emphasized that the talks aim to ensure that the parties adhere to and implement the Jeddah understandings, calling on the warring parties to respect international humanitarian law and allow access to aid, adding: ‘It’s time to end the war.’