Sudan’s Army-Backed Council to Discuss U.S. Ceasefire Proposal Amid Escalating Violence

Sudan’s army-aligned authorities are set to meet on Tuesday to deliberate on a United States proposal for a ceasefire in the country’s devastating war with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a government source told AFP

The conflict, which has killed tens of thousands and displaced millions over the past two years, has recently intensified, spreading to new regions and deepening the humanitarian crisis

After brokering peace talks in other parts of Africa and the Middle East, the Trump administration is now seeking to mediate a truce in Sudan. The army-backed government had previously rejected a similar proposal that would have sidelined both warring parties from a post-war political transition

The latest talks come as the RSF, fresh from capturing El-Fasher the last army stronghold in Darfur prepares to advance into central Kordofan. “The Security and Defence Council will hold a meeting today to discuss the U.S. truce proposal,” said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity

The conflict’s toll remains dire. Civilians fleeing El-Fasher recounted to AFP scenes of terror, looting, and killings. One witness, Mohamed Abdullah, described RSF fighters seizing their possessions and said he saw “a body left on the street that looked like it had been eaten by a dog”

U.S. envoy Massad Boulos has held recent discussions in Egypt with regional and Arab League officials, emphasizing the need for a humanitarian truce leading to a lasting ceasefire and eventual political transition

The “Quad” group comprising the U.S., Egypt, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia has been pressing for a peace roadmap, including a three-month truce and nine-month transition to civilian rule. However, the army-aligned authorities rejected this plan in September

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In the wake of El-Fasher’s fall, rights groups and the International Criminal Court have raised alarm over reports of massacres, sexual violence, and attacks on aid workers. The ICC warned that such atrocities “may constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity”

Speaking at a forum in Qatar, UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged both sides to “end this nightmare of violence,” warning that the crisis was “spiralling out of control”

Meanwhile, children in Khartoum joined protests calling for an end to the killings, holding signs that read: “Do not kill children, do not kill women”

Despite mounting global pressure, both the Sudanese army and RSF continue to defy ceasefire calls. Analysts warn that Sudan risks being effectively split in two, with the RSF controlling Darfur and southern regions, while the army holds the north, east, and central areas along the Nile and Red Sea

Writer : Mweru Mbugua