Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) announced on Monday a unilateral three-months humanitarian ceasefire, a move that comes just one day after the Sudanese army rejected an internationally backed truce proposal. The announcement marks the latest twist in a devastating conflict now entering its third year, one that the United Nations has described as the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.
In a recorded statement, RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, said the ceasefire was being offered “out of our national responsibility and in response to ongoing international efforts, led by U.S. President Donald Trump and supported by the countries of the Quad.” He said the halt in hostilities would last three months and would include the creation of an international monitoring mechanism.
The RSF’s unilateral initiative follows the outright rejection by Sudanese Army commander Abdel Fattah al-Burhan of a ceasefire proposal delivered by U.S. envoy Massad Bolous on behalf of the Quad group, which includes the United States, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt. Burhan argued the proposal was “the worst so far,” claiming it effectively dissolved the Sudanese Armed Forces, dismantled all security institutions, and allowed what he called the “rebel militia” to retain territorial control.
The war between Burhan’s army and the RSF led by his former deputy Hemedti, erupted in April 2023 after months of escalating tensions. What began as a power struggle between two military factions has spiraled into a catastrophe, killing tens of thousands and forcing an estimated 12 million people from their homes. Entire cities have been devastated, famine is looming, and humanitarian access is heavily restricted.
Despite multiple attempts at negotiation, both sides have repeatedly violated previous ceasefire agreements, causing repeated diplomatic efforts to collapse. Observers say the new unilateral truce may ease fighting temporarily, but its durability remains uncertain given the pattern of breaches since the conflict began.
In his address, Hemedti said the RSF remained committed to a political process that would exclude “the terrorist Islamic movement, the Muslim Brotherhood, and the National Congress Party,” blaming them for decades of misrule and the suffering endured by Sudanese civilians.
The international community has struggled to exert influence over the warring factions, who retain separate regional backers and appear convinced they can still achieve military gains. As the conflict drags on, humanitarian groups warn that the human toll is escalating at a pace the world cannot ignore.
Whether the latest ceasefire offer signals a genuine opening or simply another fleeting pause will depend largely on how the army responds and whether external mediators can bring both sides to the negotiating table with enforceable guarantees.
