Sudan’s Defence Council to discuss US-backed ceasefire proposal

The army-aligned Defence Council of Sudan is set to meet on Tuesday, November 4, to examine a ceasefire proposal supported by the United States, a government source told AFP.

The ongoing war, which has claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced millions over the past two years, has recently spread to new areas, raising fears of a worsening humanitarian disaster.

After mediating in several regional conflicts, the US administration under Donald Trump is now pushing for a truce in Sudan.

The renewed diplomatic efforts come amid escalating violence, as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) reportedly prepare to advance into the central Kordofan region following their capture of El-Fasher — the army’s final stronghold in Darfur.

“The Security and Defence Council will hold a meeting today to discuss the US truce proposal,” the government source said on condition of anonymity, as they were not authorised to speak to the media. 

Trump’s envoy to Africa, Massad Boulos, met Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty in Cairo on Sunday, November 2, and the Arab League in Cairo on Monday, November 3.

During the talks, Abdelatty emphasised “the importance of concerted efforts to reach a humanitarian truce and a ceasefire throughout Sudan, paving the way for a comprehensive political process in the country,” according to a statement from Egypt’s foreign ministry.

The Arab League said Boulos briefed Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit on Washington’s recent efforts to “halt the war, expedite aid delivery and initiate a political process.”

The so-called Quad group — the United States, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia — has been engaged for months in diplomatic efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Sudan’s 30-month conflict.

In September, the four nations proposed a three-month humanitarian truce, followed by a permanent ceasefire and a nine-month transition to civilian rule. However, the army-aligned government rejected the plan at the time.

By Jeyhun Aghazada