New peace talks aimed at ending Sudan’s 16-month war began without the participation of either warring side.

Despite the absence of both the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), the US, leading the talks, pressed forward, emphasizing the urgent need to address the crisis.

The conflict between the army and the RSF has resulted in thousands of deaths, displaced around 10 million people, and created the “world’s worst hunger crisis,” according to the UN.

The army boycotted the talks, citing the RSF’s failure to meet key conditions from last year’s Jeddah Declaration, while the RSF withdrew from the talks at the last minute, the BBC has reported.

The US Special Envoy for Sudan expressed hope that the army would eventually participate.

Previous peace efforts have failed, and ongoing violence in Sudan, particularly in the western region of Darfur, continues to devastate civilian populations.

Written by B.C. Begley