Sudan’s army chief rejects US-led truce as war grinds on

Sudan’s top general has thrown cold water on a fresh ceasefire proposal from US-led mediators, calling it “the worst document yet” and accusing the process of bias at a moment when the country is already shattered by more than 30 months of brutal conflict.

In video comments released by the military, Gen Abdel-Fattah Burhan made clear he has no intention of backing the plan, which calls for a three-month humanitarian truce followed by a nine-month political process. “If the mediation continues in this direction, we will consider it to be biased mediation,” he warned, adding that no one can “threaten us or dictate terms to us”.

The proposal had been backed by the Quad group, made up of the United States, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, after renewed global outrage over atrocities in Darfur, particularly in el-Fasher. The Rapid Support Forces had said they agreed to the truce, but Burhan rejected it, arguing that it would “eliminate the Armed Forces, dissolve security agencies and keep the militia where they are”.

Sudan’s war erupted in April 2023 after a power struggle between the military and the RSF spiralled into full-scale fighting. The conflict has killed more than 40,000 people, according to UN figures, displaced over 14 million and pushed parts of the country into famine. Aid groups insist the true human cost is likely far higher.

Burhan also directed criticism at the UAE, saying the mediation group was “not innocent of responsibility”, citing what he described as support for the RSF. The UAE has repeatedly denied backing the paramilitaries, despite reports from rights groups and intelligence assessments suggesting otherwise.

At the same time, Burhan dismissed allegations that his forces used chemical weapons or were controlled by Islamists, and stressed that the army would only consider a truce once the RSF fully withdraws from civilian areas to allow displaced people to return home.

“We’re not warmongers, and we don’t reject peace,” he said, framing his stance as defence rather than defiance.