Sudan peace talks resume in Geneva as drone war fuels humanitarian catastrophe

Nearly two dozen countries meet to coordinate ceasefire efforts amid warnings of famine and widespread civilian suffering

By LineZotpaper

Published21 October 2026

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International mediators gathered in Geneva on Wednesday for a new round of talks aimed at ending Sudan's devastating conflict, now in its fourth year, as officials described a war increasingly defined by deadly drone strikes against civilians and a worsening famine crisis affecting millions.

The talks, formally known as the Consultative Meetings on Enhancing Coordination of Peace Initiatives and Efforts in Sudan, are co-hosted by the United Nations and Switzerland. They follow earlier rounds in Cairo, Djibouti, Nouakchott, and Brussels.

Pekka Haavisto, the UN Secretary-General's Personal Envoy for Sudan, opened the session by calling on delegates to explore "practical ways forward" for de-escalation, urging them to use their "respective channels of engagement to build confidence and help create conditions conducive to a comprehensive ceasefire."

Neither the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) nor the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) are represented at the meeting, which is designed for mediators to coordinate their actions. On the margins, Haavisto was expected to engage with the "Quad" mechanism, the United States, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt, and the "Quintet" of the African Union, IGAD, the UN, the European Union and the League of Arab States.

State Secretary of Switzerland Alexandre Fasel highlighted the humanitarian toll, noting that "the war in Sudan has become a drone war; it kills mostly civilians." He added that "famine-like conditions persist in Darfur, the Kordofan state and elsewhere in the country." Fasel stressed that international humanitarian law requires the protection of civilians and humanitarian access "must not wait for a ceasefire and a political solution."

Nearly 34 million people in Sudan need humanitarian support, according to UN aid coordination office OCHA. The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) reports that eight million Sudanese children are out of school, and conflict-related sexual violence has re-emerged as a tactic of terror. The talks are also expected to address a Sudanese-led transitional political phase through inclusive dialogue.

The day before the main meeting, humanitarian-focused discussions at UN Geneva involved delegations, senior UN officials, and international NGOs including the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Sudan INGO Forum.

Analysis

Why This Matters

The conflict has created one of the world's worst humanitarian crises, with nearly 34 million people in need of aid and famine conditions in multiple regions.
The widespread use of drones against civilians marks a dangerous escalation in warfare tactics, making any ceasefire deal more urgent.
The exclusion of warring parties from these talks means the real test remains whether mediators can leverage enough pressure to bring SAF and RSF to the table.

Background

The conflict began in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), former allies who had jointly seized power in a 2021 coup. Since then, the war has been marked by widespread atrocities, displacement of millions, and a breakdown of basic services. Previous peace initiatives have failed to halt the fighting, and the country now faces the world's largest internal displacement crisis.

Key Perspectives

Mediators (UN, Switzerland, Quad & Quintet): They view these talks as a necessary coordination mechanism to align international pressure and build confidence for a comprehensive ceasefire, while insisting that civilian protection must happen immediately regardless of political progress.

Humanitarian organizations (OCHA, UNICEF, ICRC): They stress that the situation is catastrophic and deteriorating, with famine, sexual violence, and mass school closures demanding an immediate humanitarian response independent of political negotiations.

Warring parties (SAF and RSF): Neither is represented at the talks, and there is no indication from the source that either side has accepted the terms of these discussions. Their absence underscores the challenge of securing a ceasefire.

What to Watch

Whether the Quad and Quintet mechanisms can produce a unified international stance that compels SAF and RSF to negotiate.
The potential for new humanitarian access agreements resulting from the pre-talks NGO coordination.
Signs of a shift in tactics by either side, particularly around drone use, as the conflict enters its fourth year.

Sources

Sudan conflict: Peace efforts resume to end ‘drone war’ fuelling humanitarian crisis · UN News - Global perspective Human stories

Checked

12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 6 supported.

Show each claim

Partly supportedThe talks resume in Geneva as a drone war fuels a humanitarian catastrophe.UN News - Global perspective Human stories: “Sudan conflict: Peace efforts resume to end ‘drone war’ fuelling humanitarian crisis.”
SupportedNearly two dozen countries are meeting to coordinate ceasefire efforts amid warnings of famine and civilian suffering.UN News - Global perspective Human stories: “Talks to halt the fighting in Sudan and alleviate the humanitarian crisis there continued in Geneva on Wednesday, where nearly two dozen countries convened to discuss a pathway to a ceasefire and transition to peaceful governance that represents all Sudanese people.”
SupportedInternational mediators gathered in Geneva on Wednesday for a new round of talks.UN News - Global perspective Human stories: “Talks to halt the fighting in Sudan and alleviate the humanitarian crisis there continued in Geneva on Wednesday”
Partly supportedA worsening famine crisis is affecting millions.UN News - Global perspective Human stories: ““Famine-like conditions persist in Darfur, the Kordofan state and elsewhere in the country; it is the war that drives this hunger.””
Not in the sourcesHaavisto opened the session.UN News - Global perspective Human stories: ““Our first session, devoted to de-escalation, will offer an opportunity to explore practical ways forward,” said Pekka Haavisto”
SupportedHaavisto called on delegates to explore “practical ways forward.”UN News - Global perspective Human stories: ““Our first session, devoted to de-escalation, will offer an opportunity to explore practical ways forward,” said Pekka Haavisto”
Partly supportedHaavisto urged delegates to use their “respective channels of engagement to build confidence” and help create conditions for a ceasefire.UN News - Global perspective Human stories: “use their “respective channels of engagement [to] build confidence and help create conditions conducive to a comprehensive ceasefire””
Partly supportedNeither the SAF nor the RSF is represented at the meeting.UN News - Global perspective Human stories: “Neither the Sudanese Government nor the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) are represented at the meeting in Geneva”
SupportedFasel said the war had become a drone war that kills mostly civilians.UN News - Global perspective Human stories: ““The war in Sudan has become a drone war; it kills mostly civilians,” said Alexandre Fasel”
SupportedNearly 34 million people in Sudan need humanitarian support, according to OCHA.UN News - Global perspective Human stories: “Across Sudan today, almost 34 million people need humanitarian support, according to the UN aid coordination office, OCHA”
SupportedUNICEF reports that eight million Sudanese children are out of school.UN News - Global perspective Human stories: “He also cited UN Children’s Fund ( UNICEF ) alerts that eight million Sudanese children are out of school today.”
Partly supportedConflict-related sexual violence has re-emerged as a tactic of terror.UN News - Global perspective Human stories: “Conflict-related sexual violence has re-emerged as a tactic to terrorise and humiliate the civilian population”