CAIRO, 25 November (H.S.): A US-led initiative to broker a ceasefire in Sudan's devastating 30-month civil war is on the verge of collapse after the nation's top general, Abdel-Fattah Burhan, rejected the proposed agreement. In a video message, General Burhan lambasted the plan as the worst yet and accused the mediating Quad—comprising the United States, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates—of bias.
The general's denunciation of the peace plan stands in stark contrast to the position of the rival paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which had agreed to the three-month humanitarian truce.
The RSF's commander, General Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, reiterated his group's commitment to the ceasefire and urged mediators to pressure the military to accept the proposal.General Burhan claims the proposal would eliminate the Armed Forces and dissolve security agencies while leaving the RSF intact. He specifically targeted the UAE, a member of the Quad, accusing the Gulf state of supporting the RSF .
The UAE's Foreign Ministry countered, stating that General Burhan's rejection demonstrated obstructive behavior .The Sudanese general also directed his ire at US adviser Massad Boulos, suggesting he could be an obstacle to peace.
General Burhan has stipulated that the military will only consider a truce if the RSF fully withdraws from civilian areas.The war, which began in April 2023, has resulted in a catastrophic humanitarian crisis, with over 14 million people displaced and a looming famine.
The international community, including UN Secretary-General António Guterres, has called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and a negotiated settlement. However, with the opposing sides so deeply entrenched, the prospects for peace in the immediate future appear grim.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
