Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) said on Thursday it had agreed to a U.S.- and Arab-backed proposal for a humanitarian ceasefire and expressed readiness to engage in talks toward a full cessation of hostilities, raising cautious hopes for a breakthrough in the country’s devastating civil war.
“The Rapid Support Forces also looks forward to implementing the agreement and immediately commencing discussions on the arrangements for a cessation of hostilities and the fundamental principles guiding the political process in Sudan,” the group said in a statement.
The announcement comes less than two weeks after the RSF seized control of al-Fashir, the famine-stricken capital of North Darfur, consolidating its hold over much of western Sudan.
Witnesses have accused RSF fighters of killing and abducting civilians during and after the takeover, sparking international outrage. RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, has since called on his forces to protect civilians and vowed to prosecute any violators.
The Sudanese army has not yet formally responded to the ceasefire proposal. Earlier this week, the army-led Security and Defense Council discussed the plan but failed to issue a definitive position, amid reported resistance from influential military commanders and allies.
A U.S. State Department spokesperson confirmed that Washington continues to engage both sides to secure a humanitarian truce.
“We urge both sides to move forward in response to the U.S.-led effort to conclude a humanitarian truce, given the immediate urgency of de-escalating the violence and ending the suffering of the Sudanese people,” the spokesperson said.
The proposed ceasefire, supported by the United States, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Egypt, builds on a September initiative calling for a three-month humanitarian pause followed by negotiations toward a permanent ceasefire.
The war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the RSF erupted in April 2023 after a power struggle between the two former allies over plans to integrate the paramilitary into the regular army.
The conflict has since killed tens of thousands, displaced millions, and pushed vast areas of Sudan to the brink of famine.
While previous ceasefires have repeatedly collapsed, diplomats hope the RSF’s latest commitment, coupled with mounting international pressure, could pave the way for renewed dialogue and much-needed humanitarian relief.
Source: Reuters
Written By Rodney Mbua
