Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) said on Thursday it has accepted a U.S.-backed proposal for a humanitarian ceasefire, while the country’s military-led government has yet to respond.
The announcement follows the RSF’s capture of el-Fasher, the last army stronghold in Darfur, after an 18-month siege that caused widespread starvation. A UN-backed monitor has confirmed famine conditions in the city.
The RSF, facing global outrage over alleged mass killings, acknowledged “violations” by individual fighters and said some arrests had been made.
The U.S., UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt had proposed a three-month truce leading to permanent peace and civilian rule. The RSF said it agreed to the plan “to address the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of the war” and allow urgent aid delivery.
Sudan’s Defence Minister, Hassan Kabroun, thanked Washington for its peace efforts but insisted preparations to fight the RSF would continue, calling it a “legitimate national right.”
Government envoy Mohamed Osman Akasha told the BBC the army would only halt fighting if the RSF disarmed and its leader faced justice.
The conflict, which began in April 2023, has displaced millions and created what the UN calls the world’s largest humanitarian crisis. Over 24 million Sudanese face acute food shortages, with local aid networks collapsing due to exhaustion and lack of support.
More than 60,000 people have fled el-Fasher amid reports of systematic killings by RSF fighters. Survivors described “unimaginable” suffering, including torture and executions.
RSF leader Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo has ordered investigations into alleged abuses. The UN Human Rights Council will hold an emergency session on the el-Fasher crisis on 14 November.
