RSF announces unilateral three-month ‘humanitarian truce’ in Sudan

Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have declared a seemingly unilateral three-month humanitarian truce during the country’s civil war.

Hemedti, a commander of the RSF, made the announcement in a recorded address on Monday. General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan’s Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), which was in conflict, did not immediately confirm that any agreement had been reached.

Late on Sunday, Al-Burhan rejected a call for a ceasefire between Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States. He expressed particular disapproval of the UAE’s grouping, which has long refuted claims that it is funding and arming the RSF.

Hemedti claimed on Monday that the RSF sought to improve civilian protections and facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid in collaboration with the Quad, the African Union, and the regional Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) bloc.

The RSF had previously stated earlier this month that it had consented to the Quad’s request for a ceasefire, but soon the Quad began to use drone strikes on SAF-held territory.

Hemedti added that the unilateral pause was the first step in achieving a political solution to the conflict, which broke out in April 2023 as a result of an shoddy power-sharing agreement between al-Burhan and Hemedti.

The commander added that the RSF had approved of the use of a field-monitoring system and that it was “absolutely committed” to holding accountable those who have “committed violations against civilians.”

Tens of thousands of people have been killed in Sudan as a result of fighting, displaced 14 million or more, and created a humanitarian crisis on both sides, who are accused of abusing the situation.

El-Fasher was seized last month by the RSF.

In what observers have called an effort to conceal evidence of mass killings, RSF fighters have been pictured burning and burying bodies in large numbers in satellite images.

Since Sunday, when al-Burhan called the proposal back-backed “the worst proposal ever,” it was unclear whether al-Burhan’s position had changed at all.

He claimed that the agreement “effectively eliminates the existence of the armed forces and… the dissolution of all security agencies” while “maintaining the rebellious militia in its positions.”