U.S. pushes for humanitarian truce as Sudan conflict escalates

The United States says it is engaging both the Sudanese Army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) to secure a humanitarian truce amid worsening violence in Sudan.

This follows a surge in bloodshed after RSF fighters captured the North Darfur capital, al-Fashir, ending an 18-month siege marked by reports of atrocities against civilians and aid workers.

The war erupted in April 2023 when tensions between Sudan’s military and the RSF exploded into open conflict in Khartoum, quickly spreading across the country.

Washington’s Senior Advisor for Arab and African Affairs, Massad Boulos, said the U.S. is determined to end the violence and has developed a detailed roadmap toward peace.

> “We came up with a comprehensive plan that has a clear roadmap. So, the timeline starts with the three-month humanitarian truce that we’re talking about now, and then the nine-month political process,” he explained.

Boulos noted that efforts are currently focused on the first phase, the humanitarian truce, which he described as a U.S. initiative.

> “So, we came up with this proposal, and we gave it to the two sides, and we’re working with both sides to finalise it,” he added.

The United States has been coordinating efforts with Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates, collectively known as the Quad, to broker peace in Sudan.

In a joint statement released on September 12, the group called for an initial three-month truce to allow humanitarian aid delivery, followed by steps toward a permanent ceasefire.

Reports and verified videos emerging from al-Fashir and surrounding areas suggest widespread atrocities by RSF fighters and allied gunmen, including killings, beatings, and sexual assaults, according to accounts from civilians and aid workers.

> “The atrocities that we’ve seen, of course, are totally unacceptable. And we put out clear statements to that effect, condemning what happened,” Boulos said.

According to United Nations estimates, more than 40,000 people have been killed in the ongoing war, though the true toll is believed to be significantly higher. The conflict has displaced over 14 million people, creating what the UN describes as the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.