After talks in Switzerland, the two sides also made progress on a protocol for ceasefire oversight. The agreement, reached during closed-door negotiations in Geneva on April 10, establishes a joint monitoring mechanism to verify compliance with a temporary cessation of hostilities that began last month. Officials from both delegations confirmed the protocol includes provisions for real-time data sharing, third-party verification by neutral observers and a rapid-response panel to address alleged violations. According to a statement issued by the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, which facilitated the talks, the protocol draws on models used in previous ceasefire arrangements in regions such as Nagorno-Karabakh and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, though adapted to the specific operational environment of the current conflict. The department did not name the parties involved, citing confidentiality agreements standard in such mediations. A senior diplomat familiar with the discussions, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the process, said the oversight framework includes designated hotlines between military commands, scheduled aerial and ground inspections, and a shared digital platform for uploading geotagged evidence of troop movements or weapons use. The diplomat emphasized that the protocol is not a peace agreement but a technical step aimed at reducing civilian risk and creating space for future political dialogue. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) welcomed the development, noting in a briefing later that day that reduced fighting would allow aid convoys to resume operations in areas previously cut off by insecurity. OCHA spokesperson Jens Laerke said the agency stands ready to scale up assistance once security guarantees are in place, and verified. Neither side has publicly released the full text of the protocol. Analysts at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy noted that although the details remain classified, the inclusion of verifiable metrics and third-party involvement increases the likelihood of adherence compared to earlier, less structured ceasefire attempts. The next step, as confirmed by both delegations in separate but identical statements released April 11, is a follow-up meeting in Vienna scheduled for May 5 to review initial implementation reports and address any emerging discrepancies in monitoring data. No further details about the agenda or participants were disclosed.
