US Demands Unaltered Ceasefire in Sudan as Generals Reject Proposal; UAE Denies RSF Support Amid War Crime Allegations

The United States is intensifying its diplomatic efforts to halt the devastating civil war in Sudan, urging the nation's warring factions to accept an immediate and unconditional ceasefire proposal. At a recent news conference in Abu Dhabi, Massad Boulos, the US Senior Adviser for Arab and African Affairs, revealed that a “comprehensive” truce plan had been presented to both the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), but neither side has agreed to it in its original form.

Boulos emphasized the US desire for both commanders – General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan of the SAF and Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti) of the RSF – to adopt the “specific text” without alterations. This plea comes amidst growing international concern over the conflict, which erupted in April 2023 and has led to widespread humanitarian catastrophe.

Rejection and Accusations

The US call for an unaltered ceasefire follows strong resistance from both Sudanese leaders. Just days prior, RSF leader Hemedti announced a unilateral three-month “humanitarian truce,” a move quickly overshadowed by subsequent hostilities. Before that, SAF commander al-Burhan vehemently dismissed the White House envoy's plan as “the worst” proposal since the war began. He claimed the plan, drafted by the “Quad” mediators (which includes Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates), would unfairly weaken the army while maintaining the RSF's position.

Al-Burhan's rejection echoes longstanding accusations that the UAE provides military and financial backing to the RSF. The UAE, however, has consistently denied these allegations, branding a Sudanese lawsuit filed against it in the International Court of Justice in March as a “cynical publicity stunt.” Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the UAE president, who attended the Abu Dhabi conference alongside Boulos, reiterated his country's commitment to ending the conflict and condemned all atrocities committed by both the SAF and RSF.

Escalating Violence and War Crime Allegations

Despite diplomatic overtures, the reality on the ground in Sudan remains grim, marked by weeks of brutal fighting and horrific allegations of atrocities across the Darfur and Kordofan regions. The feasibility of any truce holding appears dim given the ongoing hostilities.

Last month, the RSF significantly solidified its control in Western Darfur by capturing el-Fasher, the army's final major stronghold in the region. This strategic gain further exacerbates the humanitarian crisis. International organizations, satellite imagery, and eyewitness accounts have for months documented widespread killings and systematic rape in areas around el-Fasher.

Amnesty International recently issued a stark report, accusing RSF fighters of committing war crimes in el-Fasher. Agnes Callamard, the NGO's secretary-general, directly implicated the UAE, stating, “These atrocities were facilitated by the United Arab Emirates’ support for the RSF… The UAE’s ongoing backing of the RSF is fuelling the relentless cycle of violence against civilians in Sudan.”

Further compounding the situation, the Sudan Doctors Network NGO reported a “blatant violation” of the RSF's purported humanitarian truce. They detailed an attack by RSF and South Sudan’s SPLM forces on the al-Zallataya Mine in South Kordofan, where over 150 men and children were reportedly abducted. The organization condemned this “heinous crime,” asserting that the militias intended to forcibly recruit these individuals as fighters, constituting clear war crimes and violations of international humanitarian law. The urgent need for an effective and respected ceasefire in Sudan has never been more critical.