Spokeswoman Eri Kaneko told Agence France Presse that Griffiths “is currently in Jeddah and the purpose of his visit is to discuss humanitarian issues related to Sudan.”
Jeddah is hosting representatives from both sides in Sudan’s conflict, the army and the Rapid Support Forces, for talks that the international community hopes will end the fighting that has lasted three weeks.
The Jeddah talks are part of a Saudi-American initiative, which is the first serious attempt to end the fighting between the army and the Rapid Support Forces, which has transformed parts of the capital, Khartoum , in war zones, and caused hundreds of deaths and tens of thousands of people to flee.
And I heard the sound of fighting south of Khartoum on Sunday, alongside the talks taking place in Saudi Arabia.
As mediators seek to find a path to peace, both sides in the conflict have made it clear that they will only discuss a humanitarian truce and not an end to the war.
Rapid Support Forces Commander Muhammad Hamdan Dagalo (Hamedti) confirmed his group’s participation in the talks, saying he hoped it would achieve its desired goal of opening safe passage for civilians.
The United Nations Mine Action Service said the excessive use of explosive ordnance in combat has increased the danger to civilians, especially children, who may think of such ordnance as toys and play with it.
White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said he would visit Saudi Arabia early this week for talks with senior officials in the kingdom.
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