A group of international powers has put forward a new peace plan aimed at ending Sudan’s devastating civil war. The United States, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates are backing a proposal that starts with a three-month humanitarian truce, eventually leading to a permanent ceasefire and a nine-month transition toward civilian rule.
The countries stressed that “there is no military solution” to the conflict, which has already pushed Sudan to the edge of collapse.
A Nation in Crisis
Sudan has been locked in war since April 2023, when clashes between the national army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces exploded into full-scale fighting. The conflict has killed around 40,000 people and displaced over 12 million, leaving millions more at risk of famine.
The RSF currently controls much of the Darfur region, where it has set up a parallel administration. Its forces continue to battle the army for control of al-Fashir, imposing a siege that has trapped civilians and cut off food supplies.
Calls for Unity
The peace proposal also emphasizes the importance of national unity, rejecting any role for groups linked to Sudan’s former Islamist regime, which ruled the country for three decades before being toppled in 2019.
Pressure and Sanctions
To increase pressure, Washington announced new sanctions targeting senior Sudanese figures and militias accused of fueling the war. The move is part of a wider effort to curb outside influence and prevent regional powers from deepening Sudan’s divisions.
Despite accusations that some foreign governments have supported different sides in the war, the four countries behind the proposal are presenting a united front, urging Sudan’s rival factions to embrace peace.
Whether the army and RSF will accept the plan remains uncertain. Previous ceasefire efforts have quickly collapsed, leaving ordinary Sudanese to bear the brunt of the suffering.