Al-Khuraiji discusses the latest developments in the Sudanese crisis with the Swiss envoy

As part of the intensive diplomatic efforts led by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to promote regional stability and end conflicts in the region, His Excellency the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Engineer Waleed bin Abdulkarim Al-Khuraiji, received today, at the Ministry’s headquarters in the capital, Riyadh, the Special Envoy of Switzerland to Sudan and African Affairs, Sylvain Esther.

During the meeting, the two sides reviewed the latest developments in the sisterly Republic of Sudan, focusing on ways to halt the military escalation and return to the political process. They also discussed international efforts in this regard and the importance of unifying the visions of international actors to ensure the protection of civilians and the delivery of humanitarian aid to those affected.

Saudi Arabia's role in the Sudanese crisis

These talks come as an extension of the pivotal role played by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia since the outbreak of the conflict in Sudan in mid-April 2023. The Kingdom, in cooperation with the United States of America, led intensive mediation efforts through the “Jeddah Platform”, which hosted rounds of negotiations between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, with the aim of reaching ceasefire agreements and facilitating humanitarian work.

Through these diplomatic meetings with international envoys, such as the Swiss envoy, Riyadh seeks to mobilize international support for peace initiatives, and to emphasize the need to preserve Sudan’s unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity, and to prevent the country from sliding into a full-blown civil war that could threaten the stability of the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea.

Human and political dimensions

The meeting also addressed the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Sudan, where UN reports indicate the displacement of millions and widespread suffering from food and medicine shortages. The Kingdom, through its humanitarian arm, the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre, is working to establish air and sea bridges to provide relief to the Sudanese people—a matter of shared interest with Switzerland, which is known for its work in the field of international humanitarian law.

The reception was attended by the Ambassador of the Swiss Confederation to the Kingdom, Yasmine Chatila, reflecting the depth of bilateral relations between the two countries and the shared commitment to coordination on regional and international issues of common interest.

The international community hopes that these diplomatic moves will result in a real breakthrough in the crisis, paving the way for a comprehensive Sudanese national dialogue that will end the suffering of the brotherly Sudanese people.