Millions of people have been forced to flee their homes since Sudan's civil war broke out in 2023. Reuters
Millions of people have been forced to flee their homes since Sudan's civil war broke out in 2023. Reuters
Millions of people have been forced to flee their homes since Sudan's civil war broke out in 2023. Reuters
Millions of people have been forced to flee their homes since Sudan's civil war broke out in 2023. Reuters

New Sudan peace plan calls for three-month truce as first step to ending war


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A new peace proposal has emerged in Sudan's civil war, calling for an initial three-month truce followed by a return to civilian rule in which the Muslim Brotherhood is kept out of power.

The UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the US announced on Friday they had agreed a "shared set of principles" on ending the conflict. Sudan's army and a rival paramilitary, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), have been at war since April 2023.

The war has left Sudan divided between two governments. The fighting has brought famine to Sudan and forced millions to leave their homes amid sieges, fierce battles and allegations of war crimes against both sides.

In their five-point peace plan, the UAE and partners said Sudan's unity is essential, that a military solution not "viable" and that both sides are obliged to let aid reach the Sudanese people "through all necessary routes".

The fourth point addresses steps towards a new government for Sudan. The four countries "called for a humanitarian truce, for an initial three months, to enable the swift entry of humanitarian aid to all parts of Sudan", they said.

They said this should "lead immediately to a permanent ceasefire, then an inclusive and transparent transition process should be launched and concluded within nine months to meet the aspirations of the Sudanese people".

"Sudan’s future cannot be dictated by violent extremist groups part of or evidently linked to the Muslim Brotherhood, whose destabilising influence has fuelled violence and instability across the region," they said. Analysts have warned of Islamist groups regaining influence in Sudan in an alliance with the army.

The fifth element is that "an end to external military support is essential to ending the conflict", the countries said. Their foreign ministers say they will "exert all efforts" to get the army and RSF to negotiate a settlement.

The ministers will also "press all parties to the conflict" to protect civilians and ensure aid reaches those in need, they said. The UAE and partners have previously acted as go-betweens in peace talks in Switzerland.

The UAE and partners say Sudan's warring parties must allow humanitarian aid to reach civilians. AFP
The UAE and partners say Sudan's warring parties must allow humanitarian aid to reach civilians. AFP

Sudan's army-backed government under Gen Abdel Fattah Al Burhan, which operates from Port Sudan, controls northern, central and eastern regions. The RSF, led by Gen Mohamed Dagalo, has set up its own administration in western Darfur.

Once allies, the two generals led a coup in 2021 that overthrew a civilian government under prime minister Abdalla Hamdok. Mr Hamdok told The National this week that the US was showing "rather more structured and more serious engagement" in the peace process.

On Friday, the US Treasury Department announced sanctions on Sudanese Finance Minister Gebreil Ibrahim Mohamed Fediel and militia group Al Baraa bin Malik Brigade for their involvement in the civil war and connections to Iran.

The sanctions are aimed at limiting extremist influence within Sudan and curtailing Tehran's regional activities, "which have contributed to regional destabilisation, conflict and civilian suffering", Treasury said.

The army recaptured Khartoum in March but the city came under attack from RSF drones this week. The strikes were expected to curtail the return of residents who had fled the fighting.

RESULT

Manchester City 5 Swansea City 0
Man City:
D Silva (12'), Sterling (16'), De Bruyne (54' ), B Silva (64' minutes), Jesus (88')

RESULTS

6.30pm: Meydan Sprint Group 2 US$175,000 1,000m
Winner: Ertijaal, Jim Crowley (jockey), Ali Rashid Al Raihe (trainer)

7.05pm: Handicap $60,000 1,400m
Winner: Secret Ambition, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar

7.40pm: Handicap $160,000 1,400m
Winner: Raven’s Corner, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar

8.15pm: Dubai Millennium Stakes Group 3 $200,000 2,000m
Winner: Folkswood, William Buick, Charlie Appleby

8.50pm: Zabeel Mile Group 2 $250,000 1,600m
Winner: Janoobi, Jim Crowley, Mike de Kock

9.25pm: Handicap $125,000 1,600m
Winner: Capezzano, Mickael Barzalona, Salem bin Ghadayer

Directed: Smeep Kang
Produced: Soham Rockstar Entertainment; SKE Production
Cast: Rishi Kapoor, Jimmy Sheirgill, Sunny Singh, Omkar Kapoor, Rajesh Sharma
Rating: Two out of five stars 

UK’s AI plan
  • AI ambassadors such as MIT economist Simon Johnson, Monzo cofounder Tom Blomfield and Google DeepMind’s Raia Hadsell
  • £10bn AI growth zone in South Wales to create 5,000 jobs
  • £100m of government support for startups building AI hardware products
  • £250m to train new AI models
What's in the deal?

Agreement aims to boost trade by £25.5bn a year in the long run, compared with a total of £42.6bn in 2024

India will slash levies on medical devices, machinery, cosmetics, soft drinks and lamb.

India will also cut automotive tariffs to 10% under a quota from over 100% currently.

Indian employees in the UK will receive three years exemption from social security payments

India expects 99% of exports to benefit from zero duty, raising opportunities for textiles, marine products, footwear and jewellery

What are the GCSE grade equivalents?
 
  • Grade 9 = above an A*
  • Grade 8 = between grades A* and A
  • Grade 7 = grade A
  • Grade 6 = just above a grade B
  • Grade 5 = between grades B and C
  • Grade 4 = grade C
  • Grade 3 = between grades D and E
  • Grade 2 = between grades E and F
  • Grade 1 = between grades F and G

Graduated from the American University of Sharjah

She is the eldest of three brothers and two sisters

Has helped solve 15 cases of electric shocks

Enjoys travelling, reading and horse riding

 

Continental champions

Best Asian Player: Massaki Todokoro (Japan)

Best European Player: Adam Wardzinski (Poland)

Best North & Central American Player: DJ Jackson (United States)

Best African Player: Walter Dos Santos (Angola)

Best Oceanian Player: Lee Ting (Australia)

Best South American Player: Gabriel De Sousa (Brazil)

Best Asian Federation: Saudi Jiu-Jitsu Federation

The permutations for UAE going to the 2018 World Cup finals

To qualify automatically

UAE must beat Iraq.

Australia must lose in Japan and at home to Thailand, with their losing margins and the UAE's winning margin over Iraq being enough to overturn a goal difference gap of eight.

Saudi Arabia must lose to Japan, with their losing margin and the UAE's winning margin over Iraq being enough to overturn a goal difference gap of eight.

 

To finish third and go into a play-off with the other third-placed AFC side for a chance to reach the inter-confederation play-off match

UAE must beat Iraq.

Saudi Arabia must lose to Japan, with their losing margin and the UAE's winning margin over Iraq being enough to overturn a goal difference gap of eight.

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Karwaan

Producer: Ronnie Screwvala

Director: Akarsh Khurana

Starring: Irrfan Khan, Dulquer Salmaan, Mithila Palkar

Rating: 4/5

if you go

Getting there

Etihad (Etihad.com), Emirates (emirates.com) and Air France (www.airfrance.com) fly to Paris’ Charles de Gaulle Airport, from Abu Dhabi and Dubai respectively. Return flights cost from around Dh3,785. It takes about 40 minutes to get from Paris to Compiègne by train, with return tickets costing €19. The Glade of the Armistice is 6.6km east of the railway station.

Staying there

On a handsome, tree-lined street near the Chateau’s park, La Parenthèse du Rond Royal (laparenthesedurondroyal.com) offers spacious b&b accommodation with thoughtful design touches. Lots of natural woods, old fashioned travelling trunks as decoration and multi-nozzle showers are part of the look, while there are free bikes for those who want to cycle to the glade. Prices start at €120 a night.

More information: musee-armistice-14-18.fr ; compiegne-tourisme.fr; uk.france.fr

UAE v Gibraltar

What: International friendly

When: 7pm kick off

Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City

Admission: Free

Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page

UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)

In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe

Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010

Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille

Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm

Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year

Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”

Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners

TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013 

Updated: September 12, 2025, 7:21 PM