Washington signals breakthrough in mediation efforts between warring factions, though challenges remain amid worsening humanitarian crisis
The United States announced Monday that warring parties in Sudan have agreed in principle to a humanitarian truce framework, offering a potential breakthrough in efforts to end a brutal 19-month civil war that has devastated the East African nation.
Massad Boulos, the US senior adviser for Arab and African affairs, told Sudan Tribune that both the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have accepted an initial plan without major objections, with negotiations now centered on implementation details.
“Both parties have agreed in principle, and we have not recorded any initial objection from either side. We are now focusing on the fine details,” Boulos said, adding that separate US-led communications with each faction are navigating the process rather than direct negotiations between the combatants.
Building on International Framework
The proposed truce builds upon a framework established by an international coalition—known as the Quad—comprising the United States, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Meeting in Washington on September 12, the group called for an initial three-month humanitarian ceasefire to enable emergency aid delivery across Sudan’s conflict zones.
The broader plan envisions a nine-month transitional period following any initial truce, aimed at establishing an independent, civilian-led government—a goal that has remained elusive since military tensions erupted into open warfare in April 2023.
The conflict began when long-simmering tensions between Sudan’s military leadership and the RSF, a powerful paramilitary force, exploded into violence. What started as a power struggle in the capital Khartoum has since engulfed much of the country, with neither side able to secure a decisive advantage despite repeated international mediation attempts.
El-Fasher Crisis Adds Urgency
Boulos described the humanitarian situation in El-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur state, as “very urgent and painful,” highlighting the crisis that has added urgency to peace efforts. The RSF captured the strategic city on October 26, with local and international organizations reporting massacres of civilians in the aftermath.
The fall of El-Fasher has raised alarm among international observers about Sudan’s potential territorial fragmentation. The city had been one of the last major holdouts against RSF control in the western Darfur region, and its capture has consolidated the paramilitary force’s dominance across much of western Sudan.
“Our primary concern now is to address the humanitarian situation urgently, then achieve lasting peace in Sudan and preserve its unity,” Boulos stated, emphasizing Washington’s condemnation of atrocities against civilians.
In a follow-up statement on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, the senior adviser reiterated condemnation of “the horrific crimes against civilians in El Fasher,” calling for urgent action to protect civilians and end the violence.
Humanitarian Catastrophe Deepens
The conflict has created one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, though precise casualty figures remain difficult to verify. Thousands have been killed since fighting began, while millions have been displaced both within Sudan and across its borders into neighboring countries including Chad, Egypt, and South Sudan.
Aid organizations have struggled to reach affected populations, with active combat zones, bureaucratic obstacles, and deliberate obstruction limiting humanitarian access. The proposed three-month ceasefire aims to create conditions for emergency aid delivery to all areas of the country.
Diplomatic Coordination
Boulos’s remarks came following a meeting with Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit, where they discussed regional developments and challenges. The coordination reflects broader international concern about Sudan’s stability and its implications for the Horn of Africa region.
The involvement of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE alongside the United States in the Quad framework reflects the conflict’s regional dimensions. Egypt shares a border with Sudan and hosts a significant Sudanese refugee population, while Gulf states have economic and strategic interests in the country.
Uncertain Path Forward
Despite the reported agreement in principle, significant obstacles remain before any truce can take effect. The lack of direct negotiations between the warring parties suggests deep mistrust, while the “fine details” Boulos referenced could prove contentious—including monitoring mechanisms, territorial control during the ceasefire, and guarantees for humanitarian access.
Previous ceasefire attempts have repeatedly collapsed, with both sides accusing the other of violations. The international community’s ability to enforce any agreement remains limited, relying primarily on diplomatic pressure rather than mechanisms to compel compliance.
The proposed nine-month transition to civilian rule also faces substantial challenges, given that the original conflict emerged from a failed power-sharing arrangement following Sudan’s 2019 revolution that ousted longtime dictator Omar al-Bashir.
As negotiations continue over implementation details, millions of Sudanese civilians remain caught in the crossfire, facing food insecurity, disease, and displacement while hoping for an end to a conflict that has already claimed too many lives and shows few signs of resolution without sustained international pressure and commitment from both warring parties.
