Sudan’s paramilitary forces signal ceasefire after months of deadly violence

The head of Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) announced late on November 24 that his paramilitary group would immediately implement a three-month humanitarian truce, following a call by US President Donald Trump last week to intervene and help end the war that has pushed Sudan toward famine.

Earlier this month, the United States, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia — collectively known as the Quad — proposed a plan calling for a three-month truce, to be followed by peace talks. The RSF initially stated it had accepted the proposal but soon launched drone strikes on army-held territory.

Monday’s announcement appeared to signal a unilateral ceasefire by the RSF. It came one day after Sudan’s army chief rejected the Quad’s plan and criticised the inclusion of the UAE as a mediator, amid accusations that the Emirati government has supplied weapons to the RSF. The UAE has denied such claims, asserting that its goal is to end the conflict.

“In response to international efforts, chiefly that of His Excellency US President Donald Trump, I announce a humanitarian ceasefire including a cessation of hostilities for three months,” General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo of the RSF said in a Monday speech.

“We hope the Quad countries will play their role in encouraging the other side to engage with this step,” he added.

The announcement comes amid widespread criticism of the RSF for brutal attacks on civilians following its takeover of al-Fashir in late October, which solidified its control over the Darfur region. Since then, the RSF has intensified attacks in the Kordofan region as part of efforts to seize broader control of Sudan.

Sudan’s army chief, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, in a Sunday speech, rejected the US-led proposal, arguing that it sought to weaken the army while allowing the RSF to retain territories it had seized.

“No one in Sudan will accept the presence of these rebels or allow them to be part of any future solution,” al-Burhan said, also denying US claims of Islamist influence within his government.

Reacting to al-Burhan’s stance, Reem bint Ebrahim al-Hashimy, UAE minister of state for international cooperation, said on Monday: “In his rejection of the US Peace Plan for Sudan, and his repeated refusal to accept a ceasefire, he demonstrates consistently obstructive behaviour.”

The UAE’s top diplomat met with Massad Boulos, White House advisor on African and Arab Affairs, in Abu Dhabi on Monday, the Emirati state news agency reported.

The conflict in Sudan, which erupted in April 2023 over disagreements on integrating the RSF and the national army, has plunged the country into famine and resulted in tens of thousands of civilian deaths, including ethnic-targeted violence.

The RSF has faced accusations of genocide, and both Dagalo and al-Burhan have been sanctioned by the United States.

By Tamilla Hasanova