Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) rebel group has agreed to a humanitarian ceasefire proposed by a US-led mediation team that includes the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia, and Egypt.
The move marks a potential turning point in Sudan’s devastating conflict, which has dragged on for more than two and a half years, leaving millions displaced and thousands dead.
Agreement from the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, is still pending. The two factions have been locked in fierce fighting since 2023, with several previous ceasefires collapsing soon after being declared.
According to Massad Boulos, the U.S. administration’s advisor on Africa, both sides have shown openness to a three-month humanitarian ceasefire, which would allow aid delivery and relief efforts in war-torn areas.
He added that the proposed truce could be followed by a nine-month negotiation phase, laying the groundwork for long-term peace talks.
Earlier this week, Sudan’s Security and Defence Council, chaired by al-Burhan, discussed the ceasefire proposal and expressed appreciation to “friendly countries” for their mediation efforts. The council also thanked the U.S. administration for its commitment to ending the conflict but stopped short of issuing an official response to the ceasefire plan.
Meanwhile, the RSF, which now controls much of Darfur and nearly half of Sudan’s populated areas, continues to face serious accusations of atrocities. The group has been linked to human rights abuses reminiscent of the Janjaweed militia, responsible for the mass killings that claimed up to 300,000 lives between 2003 and 2020.
Western intelligence sources have accused the UAE of supplying arms and logistical support to the RSF — allegations that Abu Dhabi has strongly denied.
The international community hopes this new agreement will create the first real opening for peace and humanitarian relief in one of Africa’s longest and most complex conflicts.
