Sudan’s army chief has dismissed a ceasefire proposal from US-led mediators, calling it “the worst yet” and accusing them of bias, in a setback to efforts aimed at ending a war that has ravaged the country for more than 30 months.
In video remarks released late Sunday, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan said the plan was unacceptable, claiming it would dismantle the armed forces and security agencies while leaving rival militias untouched. “It is very bad and we don’t accept it,” he declared.
Al-Burhan also criticized Massad Boulos, the US adviser for African affairs, accusing him of trying to impose conditions on Sudan’s military. “We fear that he will be an obstacle to the peace that we and all the people of Sudan seek,” he added.
The mediation group, known as the Quad comprising the US, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates has spent more than two years attempting to broker peace and revive Sudan’s stalled democratic transition following the 2021 military coup.
Earlier this month, US President Donald Trump pledged to devote greater attention to resolving Sudan’s conflict after Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman pressed him to act during a White House visit.
Al-Burhan also singled out the UAE, accusing it of backing Sudan’s paramilitary forces. “The Quad is not innocent of responsibility, especially since the entire world has witnessed the UAE’s support for the rebels against the Sudanese State,” he said.
Rights groups have long alleged that the UAE has armed Sudanese paramilitaries, though the Gulf nation has consistently denied the claims.
