The United States has put forward a proposal to Sudan’s conflicting factions for a ceasefire, but neither side has officially agreed to it, according to U.S. envoy Massad Boulos on Tuesday. The Sudanese army accused its adversaries of launching an attack despite announcing a truce. Boulos mentioned that the Sudanese army raised “impossible” preconditions after reviewing the U.S.-proposed plan, although there were no objections to its content.
The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), the army’s opponent in the conflict, independently declared a halt to hostilities in line with U.S. wishes on Monday. However, on Tuesday, the army reported repelling an assault on a base in Babanusa, situated in West Kordofan state, the newest conflict zone. U.S. President Donald Trump pledged last week to intervene and end the ongoing conflict between the army and RSF that started in April 2023 due to a power struggle, leading to famine, ethnic violence, and widespread displacement.
Previous peace efforts involving the U.S., Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates have not been successful. In September, the group submitted a proposal to both forces, and Boulos revealed that a robust truce proposal was presented to the Sudanese army and RSF, but neither party has formally accepted it yet.
Sudanese army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan criticized the latest U.S. proposal on Sunday, describing it as biased towards the RSF and sidelining the army. Boulos, alongside Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the U.A.E. president, dismissed Burhan’s remarks as based on misinformation. The Sudanese army has opposed including the U.A.E. in peace negotiations and insisted on a ceasefire only after the RSF withdraws from civilian areas.
The U.A.E. has faced accusations of arming the RSF, which it denies. Gargash emphasized that his country remains committed to peace despite misinformation campaigns. He also expressed concern over the influence of Islamist groups like the Muslim Brotherhood in Sudan’s future, a claim denied by Burhan.
Boulos suggested that if the U.S. designates the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization, affiliated groups in the region may face scrutiny. RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo declared a unilateral ceasefire on Monday under international pressure following brutal attacks by his forces on civilians last month. It remained uncertain whether the ceasefire was being upheld on Tuesday.
Boulos welcomed the RSF’s ceasefire announcement, hoping it would be respected. He emphasized the need to halt external financial and military support to the conflicting parties without naming specific countries. Sudanese government spokesperson Khalid Aleisir, representing the army-led government, dismissed the RSF’s ceasefire declaration as a strategic distraction from their alleged atrocities, stating that perpetrators of abuses would be held accountable, despite the RSF’s denial of exaggerated reports of misconduct.
