The United States has announced that it is working closely with both the Sudanese Army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) to secure a humanitarian truce following a surge in violence across Sudan.
The renewed diplomatic push comes after RSF fighters captured al-Fashir, the capital of North Darfur, following an 18-month siege. Reports emerging from the region point to widespread atrocities committed against civilians and aid workers, including killings, beatings, and sexual assaults.
Speaking in Cairo, Massad Boulos, Senior Advisor to former U.S. President Donald Trump, said Washington is determined to end the bloodshed and ease the humanitarian crisis.
“We came up with a comprehensive plan that includes a clear roadmap. It begins with a three-month humanitarian truce, followed by a nine-month political process,” Boulos said.
“We’re currently focused on finalising the first phase. This humanitarian truce is a U.S.-led initiative, and we’re working with both sides to make it a reality,” he added.
The U.S. has been coordinating with Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates—a group collectively referred to as the Quad—to broker peace in Sudan. The four nations previously released a joint statement on 12 September, calling for an initial three-month truce to allow delivery of vital aid, with hopes of transitioning to a permanent ceasefire.
Since the conflict erupted in April 2023, when tensions between Sudan’s military and the RSF escalated into open warfare in Khartoum, the violence has spread nationwide.
According to United Nations estimates, more than 40,000 people have been killed, though the actual toll is believed to be significantly higher. The fighting has displaced over 14 million people, creating what humanitarian agencies describe as the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.
“The atrocities we’ve witnessed are totally unacceptable,” Boulos said, reaffirming U.S. condemnation of the violence.