oluwatosin oyeniyi KHARTOUM, Sudan — Sudanese army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan has reaffirmed his government’s commitment to US-led peace efforts in a message to President Donald Trump, as Washington intensifies diplomatic efforts to secure a humanitarian truce in a war that has devastated the country since April 2023.
Burhan announced on Thursday, October 15, that he had written to Trump to express Sudan’s commitment to the American initiative. He said his government was ready to work in good faith with all parties towards a just and lasting peace that protects Sudan’s sovereignty, unity, territorial integrity and the dignity of its people.
The statement signals renewed diplomatic engagement after months of disagreement between Washington and Sudan’s military leadership over the terms of a proposed 90-day humanitarian truce.
However, Burhan’s latest message does not confirm that his government has accepted the proposed ceasefire. The army has previously opposed the plan unless the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) withdraw from cities and other areas they control.
The development comes as the United States works with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt through the Quad mechanism to find a path towards ending the conflict.
A diplomatic opening amid strained relations
Burhan’s message follows a period of tension between Sudan’s military-led government and Washington over the proposed ceasefire.
In September, the United States withheld a visa for Burhan to attend the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The decision was widely linked to Washington’s frustration with his position on the proposed truce.
US officials have pressed both sides in the conflict to accept an immediate humanitarian ceasefire without preconditions, arguing that a pause in fighting is needed to facilitate aid delivery and create space for political negotiations.
Burhan, however, has maintained that any settlement must address the RSF’s presence in cities and territories it has occupied. Sudan’s army has argued that a truce without a more comprehensive withdrawal arrangement could leave the paramilitary force in control of strategic areas.
The disagreement reflects a central obstacle to negotiations: Washington wants the parties to agree to a humanitarian pause, while the army has tied its acceptance to conditions it considers necessary for Sudan’s security and territorial integrity.
Quad diplomacy seeks a way forward
The United States is pursuing the initiative alongside Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, which together form the Quad mechanism focused on ending Sudan’s war.
The latest diplomatic engagement included a meeting between Trump’s senior adviser for Arab and African affairs, Massad Boulos, and Burhan in Egypt in early October. The encounter took place during a gathering hosted by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.
Boulos has reiterated Washington’s support for Sudan’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity, while advocating a political solution involving Sudanese stakeholders.
The US proposal centres on a 90-day humanitarian truce, followed by negotiations towards a permanent ceasefire and a political process intended to restore civilian-led government. It also envisages arrangements for RSF withdrawals from priority areas, supported by a United Nations-led mechanism.
The initiative has yet to secure agreement from both warring sides. The army has raised objections to the proposed withdrawal arrangements, while the wider diplomatic effort faces the challenge of persuading the parties to prioritise negotiations over continued military operations.
A war with mounting humanitarian consequences
Sudan’s conflict erupted in April 2023 following a power struggle between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF. The fighting spread from Khartoum to other parts of the country, destroying infrastructure, disrupting essential services and forcing millions of people from their homes.
The conflict has produced one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises, with widespread displacement, severe food insecurity and repeated obstacles to delivering assistance to civilians.
Aid organisations have faced dangers including attacks, insecurity along supply routes and restrictions that impede access to communities in need. A humanitarian truce could create opportunities to deliver food, medical supplies and other assistance, although its impact would depend on compliance by the parties and reliable access for relief agencies.
The conflict has also drawn concern over alleged abuses against civilians. Both the army and the RSF have faced accusations of serious violations, which they have disputed or denied in various instances. Any sustainable peace process will need to address civilian protection as well as the immediate cessation of hostilities.
What Burhan’s message means for peace efforts
Burhan’s communication to Trump offers a fresh diplomatic signal, but it leaves key questions unanswered. He has not publicly confirmed acceptance of the proposed 90-day truce, and the message does not establish whether the army is prepared to compromise on its demands concerning RSF withdrawals.
The RSF’s position on the latest message also remains important. An agreement by one side alone would not be sufficient to halt a war involving two heavily armed forces operating across multiple regions.
For the Quad initiative to make progress, mediators will need to narrow differences over the ceasefire’s terms, establish credible monitoring arrangements and secure commitments that can be implemented on the ground. Humanitarian agencies will also need assurances that aid can reach civilians safely and consistently.
Burhan’s message therefore represents a diplomatic development rather than a breakthrough. Whether it leads to meaningful progress will depend on the next steps taken by Sudan’s army, the RSF and the countries working to mediate the conflict.
For Sudanese civilians, the urgent measure of progress will be whether diplomatic statements translate into a sustained reduction in violence, improved humanitarian access and a credible route towards a political settlement.
