Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have accepted a humanitarian ceasefire proposal put forth by the United States and Arab nations and are willing to engage in discussions regarding a halt to hostilities, as stated in a release on Thursday. Despite multiple ceasefire attempts over their 2½-year conflict, both the RSF and the Sudanese military have failed to reach a lasting agreement. The U.S. President’s administration has expressed efforts towards ending the strife in Sudan.
The recent declaration, to which the Sudanese army has not yet responded, follows the RSF’s capture of the besieged city of El Fasher, which has endured more than 18 months of isolation. El Fasher was the final military stronghold in the western Darfur region.
In a statement, the RSF expressed readiness to adhere to the agreement and commence talks promptly on the terms for a cessation of hostilities and the core principles guiding Sudan’s political progression. The Security and Defense Council, led by the military, convened earlier this week but did not provide a definitive answer to the proposal, despite dissent from influential figures and allies within the army.
A Sudanese military official, speaking anonymously to The Associated Press, mentioned that the army supports the proposal but stipulates that a truce will only be accepted once the RSF fully withdraws from civilian zones and relinquishes weapons, in alignment with prior peace proposals. Massad Boulos, a U.S. adviser for African affairs, indicated ongoing collaborative efforts with both the Sudanese army and RSF to establish a humanitarian truce, hinting at a forthcoming announcement.
The conflict between the RSF and the military originated in 2023 when tensions arose between the former allies tasked with overseeing a democratic transition post the 2019 uprising. The war has resulted in an estimated 40,000 casualties and displaced 12 million individuals, according to the WHO. However, humanitarian agencies assert that the actual death toll may be significantly higher. The World Food Program highlights that over 24 million people are confronting acute food shortages.
Sudan remains plagued by a severe displacement crisis, with additional displacements following the RSF’s takeover of El Fasher post multiple assaults that ravaged the city. Reports suggest the RSF engaged in violence against civilians, leading to international alarm over alleged summary executions. The U.N. human rights office estimated that numerous unarmed individuals may have been executed during the seizure of El Fasher, constituting war crimes.
Witnesses and global medical charity Doctors Without Borders recounted harrowing incidents where hundreds of individuals, including civilians and soldiers, were either killed or captured by the RSF. The RSF leadership dismissed these accounts as media exaggeration, asserting that investigations into any violations by RSF members were underway, with several arrests made.
A recent statement by Islamic Relief highlighted the risk of collapse facing community kitchens, vital for many families, as food scarcity intensifies in Sudan. The organization’s survey revealed that a vast majority of households in east and west Sudan are grappling with food insufficiency. Conflict, insecurity, restricted food access, and the absence of humanitarian pathways have culminated in a “man-made” famine, affecting regions such as El-Fasher and Kadugli.
Efforts to facilitate aid delivery to vulnerable communities through safe humanitarian corridors have been ongoing for nearly two years, aiming to mitigate the hunger crisis. AbdulHakim Elwaer, regional representative for Near East and North Africa, expressed optimism for a resolution by year-end to prevent mass hunger-related deaths due to inadequate aid distribution.
