In a significant blow to peace efforts, Sudan’s military leader, Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, has publicly rejected a U.S.-brokered ceasefire proposal, calling it the “worst yet” and accusing the mediating Quad group (the U.S., Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the UAE) of bias.
The proposal, which the rival Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group had accepted, called for a three-month humanitarian truce followed by a nine-month political process. Burhan condemned the plan, claiming it “eliminates the Armed Forces, dissolves security agencies and keeps the militia where they are.”
He specifically criticized U.S. adviser Massad Boulos and took aim at the United Arab Emirates, a Quad member widely accused of arming the RSF. “If the mediation continues in this direction, we will consider it to be biased mediation,” Burhan stated.
The rejection deepens the crisis in Sudan, where a power struggle between the military and the RSF has sparked a devastating 30-month war. The conflict has killed tens of thousands, created the world’s largest humanitarian crisis, and pushed parts of the country into famine.
Burhan set his own conditions for peace, demanding the RSF completely withdraw from civilian areas before any truce. “We’re not warmongers,” he said, “but no one can threaten us or dictate terms to us.” This stance presents a major obstacle to ending one of the world’s most severe humanitarian disasters.
By James Kisoo
