Could a US and Saudi-Backed Peace Proposal End Sudan’s War?
With tens of thousands dead and millions displaced, a new truce plan faces skepticism from Sudan’s warring sides
A fresh peace initiative for Sudan, jointly proposed by the United States, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates, was unveiled on Friday. Yet despite international backing, doubts over its success are already mounting.
According to UN estimates, at least 40,000 people have been killed since fighting erupted in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Independent researchers believe the toll could be far higher — more than 60,000 deaths in Khartoum state alone, many from hunger and disease. Nearly 13 million people have been displaced, while half of Sudan’s population faces acute food insecurity, with famine already spreading in besieged areas.
What’s in the Proposal?
The so-called “Quad” plan calls for a three-month humanitarian truce, followed by a permanent ceasefire and a nine-month transition under a civilian-led government. The statement declared: “There is no viable military solution to the conflict, and the status quo creates unacceptable suffering and risks to peace and security.”
The proposal also took aim at the Muslim Brotherhood, declaring that Sudan’s future could not be shaped by “violent extremist groups.” While some SAF factions are loosely aligned with the Brotherhood, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the UAE all designate it as a terrorist organization.
Reactions from the Warring Sides
The RSF has yet to issue an official response, though a parallel RSF-backed administration welcomed parts of the plan. The army-led government in Khartoum, however, rejected it, saying it would not accept foreign “interventions that do not respect Sudan’s sovereignty.”
Previous Peace Efforts
Mediation attempts have been frequent but short-lived. The Jeddah Platform talks hosted by Saudi Arabia and the US in mid-2023 collapsed amid mutual ceasefire violations. Later efforts by East Africa’s IGAD grouping and Geneva-based negotiations also failed, with the SAF objecting to the UAE’s involvement, accusing it of backing the RSF — a charge the UAE denies.
What’s at Stake?
Sudan, a nation of 50 million, is being torn apart. The UN has documented atrocities by both sides, though it says the RSF has committed crimes against humanity, including massacres, sexual violence, and extermination.
The humanitarian picture is dire: 24.6 million people face food insecurity, 637,000 are at catastrophic levels of hunger, and famine has already been declared in areas like Zamzam and el-Fasher. Aid groups warn the spread is inevitable without urgent international action.
For Sudan, the Quad’s proposal may represent one of the few remaining diplomatic lifelines — but after repeated failures, the prospects of peace remain uncertain.