New Ceasefire Push Falters as Sudan’s Military and RSF Decline U.S. Peace Blueprint
Sudan’s warring factions are no closer to halting nearly two years of fighting, with neither the Sudanese Armed Forces nor the Rapid Support Forces signing onto Washington’s latest truce blueprint, U.S. senior adviser Massad Boulos said Tuesday, highlighting yet another diplomatic impasse.
Briefing journalists in Abu Dhabi, Boulos said both camps accepted the core substance of the plan but the military countered with what he described as “impractical and obstructive conditions”, effectively freezing momentum. The proposal builds on a September framework crafted by the U.S., Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the UAE — a quartet that has struggled to shepherd the rivals toward even a temporary pause in hostilities since the war erupted in April 2023.
The conflict, driven by a bitter power struggle between Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and RSF chief Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, has displaced millions, deepened famine risks and fuelled allegations of ethnically targeted atrocities. Despite repeated international interventions, ceasefire attempts have repeatedly collapsed.
Burhan over the weekend blasted the new U.S. proposal as the “worst” he has seen, arguing it delegitimizes the army and tilts toward the RSF. Boulos pushed back, attributing the general’s remarks to misinformation, while noting the military’s longstanding objection to the UAE’s role in mediation. The army has accused Abu Dhabi — without offering public evidence — of backing the RSF, a charge the UAE adamantly denies.
UAE presidential adviser Anwar Gargash reaffirmed on Tuesday that Abu Dhabi remains committed to de-escalation and would not be swayed by what he labelled baseless allegations. He argued Sudan’s political future must not be influenced by factions linked to the Muslim Brotherhood — an organization the U.S. is weighing designating as a terrorist entity, according to Boulos.
Meanwhile, the RSF on Monday declared a unilateral ceasefire amid diplomatic outrage over attacks on civilians. Whether the pledge is holding on the ground remains unclear. Boulos welcomed the gesture but said any meaningful progress requires all external actors to stop funnelling money or weapons to either side.
Sudan government spokesman Khalid Aleisir dismissed the RSF’s announcement as a tactical smokescreen aimed at deflecting attention from alleged abuses by its fighters. The RSF insists reports of violations are overstated and has promised accountability if wrongdoing is verified.
Source: Araba Sey
