US urges truce in Sudan as army-linked Prime Minister connects ceasefire to RSF surrender

US ambassador to the UN condemns violence by both parties

The US urged “belligerents” in Sudan war, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), to accept a proposal for a humanitarian truce as a way forward, immediately and without preconditions.

US ambassador to the UN Jeffrey Bartos told the Security Council that the Trump administration strongly condemns the violence and the atrocities committed by both the SAF and the RSF, who must be held accountable.

However, a Sudanese official representing the political authority aligned with the SAF told the session that any ceasefire must come with the complete surrender of the RSF, echoing the stance of SAF chief Gen Abdel Fattah Al Burhan.

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“We urge both belligerents to accept this plan without preconditions, immediately,” said Mr Bartos, in reference to the three-month humanitarian truce proposal which was presented by the Quad group comprising Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt and the US.

Gen Al Burhan has rejected the proposal and vowed to keep fighting until the RSF is defeated. He also criticised the US senior adviser for Arab and African Affairs, Massad Boulos, and described the work of the Quad as biased.

Gen Al Burhan has been sanctioned by the US and accused of allowing his troops to use chemical weapons and block aid to certain regions.

In a statement echoing this stance, Sudan's SAF-aligned Prime Minister Kamil Idris proposed a plan that calls for a ceasefire monitored by the UN, African Union and Arab League, but linked to the withdrawal of the RSF forces from all areas they occupy, their placement in supervised camps and their disarmament.

The proposal is “home-made, not imposed on us”, he told the session.

Civilian rule

Sudan's war started in April 2023 when a power struggle between the military and the RSF exploded into open fighting, with widespread mass killings and ethnically motivated violence. This has amounted to war crimes and crimes against humanity, according to the UN and international rights groups.

In November, the RSF, which has been sanctioned by the US, EU, and others and accused of committing atrocities, agreed to the humanitarian truce, but did not acknowledge the exact text proposed by the Quad group.

The Sudanese official said that unless the paramilitary forces were confined to camps, a truce had “no chance for success”.

UAE ambassador to the UN Mohamed Abushahab said there is an immediate opportunity to implement the humanitarian truce and get aid to Sudanese civilians in desperate need.

“Lessons of history and present realities make it clear that unilateral efforts by either of the warring parties are not sustainable and will only prolong the war,” he said.

Mr Abushahab said a humanitarian truce must be followed by a permanent ceasefire and a pathway towards civilian rule “independent of the warring parties”.

UN Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Khaled Khiari reflected escalating Security Council concerns about the war in Sudan.

“While they were able to stop fighting to preserve oil revenue, they have so far failed to do the same to protect their population,” he said. “The backers of both sides must use their influence to help stop the slaughter, not to cause further devastation.”

Last week, Mr Boulos announced that Washington and Riyadh agreed on “practical steps” to win a humanitarian truce for Sudan.