Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have accepted a proposal for a humanitarian ceasefire put forth by the United States and Arab nations and are willing to engage in discussions regarding the cessation of hostilities, as stated in a release on Thursday. Throughout their ongoing conflict lasting 2½ years, both the RSF and the Sudanese military have agreed to various ceasefire initiatives, yet none have proven successful. The current administration under U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed efforts to bring an end to the fighting in Sudan.
The recent declaration from the RSF, to which the Sudanese army has not yet responded, follows the group’s capture of El Fasher, a city plagued by famine and besieged for over 18 months. El Fasher was the final stronghold of the Sudanese military in the western Darfur region before falling to the RSF. The RSF’s statement conveyed their readiness to adhere to the agreement and initiate talks promptly on the modalities for a cessation of hostilities and the core principles guiding Sudan’s political progression.
In a recent meeting of the army-led Security and Defense Council, no definitive response was given to the proposal. However, key figures and allies within the army have voiced their disapproval. A Sudanese military official, speaking anonymously, mentioned that the army supports the proposal but insists on a ceasefire only after the complete withdrawal of the RSF from civilian areas and the surrender of weapons, in line with previous peace proposals.
Massad Boulos, a U.S. adviser specializing in African affairs, disclosed ongoing collaborative efforts with both the Sudanese army and RSF to establish a humanitarian truce, hinting at a forthcoming announcement. Boulos outlined a potential plan led by the U.S. entailing a three-month humanitarian ceasefire followed by a nine-month political process.
The conflict between the RSF and the military commenced in 2023 amid escalating tensions between the former allies tasked with overseeing a democratic transition post a 2019 uprising. The warfare has resulted in the loss of over 40,000 lives and displacement of 12 million individuals, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Humanitarian agencies estimate the actual death toll to be significantly higher. Additionally, over 24 million people are facing severe food shortages, as reported by the World Food Program.
Sudan has been characterized by humanitarian organizations as home to one of the most severe displacement crises globally. Following the RSF’s takeover of El Fasher, displacing more individuals after a series of assaults, eyewitnesses have reported atrocities, including killings and abductions, raising international alarm. The United Nations human rights office indicated that numerous civilians and unarmed combatants may have been executed during the capture of El Fasher, constituting war crimes.
Islamic Relief cautioned about the imminent collapse of community kitchens, vital for numerous families, due to the prevailing famine. An assessment by the organization highlighted that 83% of families in east and west Sudan are facing food shortages. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification identified El-Fasher in North Darfur and Kadugli in South Kordofan province as regions experiencing famine, attributing the crisis to man-made causes stemming from conflict, insecurity, restricted food access, and inadequate humanitarian aid corridors.
AbdulHakim Elwaer, representing the Near East and North Africa region, emphasized the urgent need for humanitarian corridors to facilitate aid delivery to vulnerable communities. He expressed optimism for a resolution by year-end to prevent mass starvation due to aid barriers.