U.S. Calls for Immediate Ceasefire in Sudan Amidst Humanitarian Crisis

The United States has underscored the urgent need for immediate agreement and implementation of a proposed humanitarian ceasefire in Sudan, cautioning that the humanitarian crisis is deteriorating rapidly and has reached "catastrophic levels."

This statement was made by Musaad Boulos, Senior Advisor to the U.S. President on Arab and African Affairs, who noted, "The suffering of the civilian population has reached catastrophic proportions, with millions lacking food, water, and medical care," adding that "each day of ongoing fighting costs more innocent lives."

Boulos confirmed that the ceasefire would not only save lives but also represent a fundamental step towards a lasting solution and stable peace, emphasizing the "need for all parties to commit to halting hostilities and allowing humanitarian aid to be delivered fully, safely, and without obstruction."

The U.S. official expressed hope that both sides would agree to the proposed ceasefire "swiftly and without political or military calculations," stressing that "the Sudanese people can no longer wait, and it is time to act urgently to end the suffering."

In this context, the Sudanese Foreign Ministry confirmed last week that "the government has no objections to the humanitarian aspect of the ceasefire" proposed by the Quartet (Saudi Arabia, Egypt, UAE, and the U.S.), but informed sources revealed that the Sudanese government has made four remarks regarding the initiative.

According to the newspaper "Al-Sudani," the sources stated that the government has conditioned its acceptance on the withdrawal of the Rapid Support Forces from recently occupied areas and the consolidation of their troops in specific locations, as well as the deployment of police in all areas from which the Rapid Support Forces withdraw.

This comes after the Rapid Support Forces announced their agreement to the Quartet's initiative, which calls for a three-month ceasefire and the commencement of a Sudanese-Sudanese dialogue aimed at establishing an independent civilian government within nine months.

However, a Sudanese military official stated, according to the Associated Press, that the military agrees to the Quartet's proposal but will only consent to a ceasefire after the Rapid Support Forces have fully withdrawn from civilian areas and handed over their weapons, based on previous peace proposals.

Sudan has been experiencing ongoing armed conflict between the Sudanese Army and the Rapid Support Forces since mid-April 2023, resulting in over 40,000 deaths and the displacement of around 12 million people, alongside an acute food crisis threatening millions.