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Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces declared a unilateral three-month humanitarian truce on Monday, positioning the move as a response to international pressure to halt violence and enable relief operations in the war-torn nation.
RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo announced in a recorded statement that his forces and allied groups have committed to "an immediate humanitarian ceasefire that includes a halt to all hostile actions for three months."
The declaration comes nearly 20 months into a devastating conflict between the RSF and the Sudanese army that has killed thousands and forced millions from their homes. International and regional mediation efforts have repeatedly failed to broker a lasting peace.
Under the terms announced by Dagalo, the RSF pledged to facilitate humanitarian operations by guaranteeing safe passage for aid workers, providing unrestricted access to affected areas, safeguarding relief organization facilities and warehouses, and permitting medical teams to work without interference.
The paramilitary force also agreed to establish a field monitoring mechanism supervised by the Quad—comprising the United States, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates—alongside the African Union. Additional committees would verify that assistance reaches civilians securely.
Dagalo framed the ceasefire as "the first step toward ending hostilities and reaching a comprehensive political solution," expressing optimism that international backing and wide Sudanese involvement could launch a political process to conclude the war and establish a stable transition.
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The RSF commander stipulated that any future political negotiations must exclude "the terrorist Islamic Movement, the Muslim Brotherhood, the National Congress Party and their affiliates," groups he blamed for three decades of hardship in Sudan. He characterized the army and aligned factions as affiliates of these organizations.
The Sudanese army had not responded to the RSF announcement by Monday evening.
A day earlier, Transitional Sovereignty Council Chairman Abdel Fattah al-Burhan rejected a Quad proposal without revealing its contents. The international group had called on September 12 for an initial three-month humanitarian pause to facilitate urgent aid delivery across all regions as a precursor to a permanent ceasefire.
Last week, President Donald Trump indicated the United States would pursue efforts to end Sudan's conflict following a request from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
The war erupted in April 2023 when tensions between the Sudanese army and the RSF escalated into open combat. The conflict has created one of the world's largest humanitarian crises, with civilians bearing the brunt of fighting concentrated in urban centers including the capital, Khartoum.
Previous ceasefire agreements brokered by international mediators have collapsed within days or weeks, as both sides accused each other of violations while fighting continued unabated.
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