Neither of Sudan's warring factions has accepted truce plan, Trump advisor says

Neither of Sudan's warring factions has formally accepted a "strong" plan for a truce put forward by the United States, senior U.S. envoy Massad Boulos said on Tuesday.

While there were no objections to the content of the plan, Boulos told reporters in Abu Dhabi, the Sudanese army had come back with "preconditions" he described as impossible to achieve.

U.S. President Donald Trump said last week he would intervene to stop the conflict between the army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which erupted in April 2023 out of a power struggle and has triggered famine, ethnic killings and mass displacement.

Previous efforts led by the United States, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates have failed to bear fruit. The group submitted a proposal to the two forces in September.

ARMY LEADER CRITICISES PROPOSAL

"We have presented a strong text for a truce, but neither the SAF (army) nor RSF have formally accepted the text we put forward," Boulos, Trump's advisor for African and Arab affairs, said on Tuesday, indicating that the latest plan built on the September proposal.

On Sunday, army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan described the U.S.'s latest proposal as the worst he'd seen, saying it sidelined the army and granted the RSF legitimacy.

Boulos, speaking at a press conference with Anwar Gargash, diplomatic advisor to the UAE president, said Burhan's criticisms were based on incorrect information.

The Sudanese army has previously objected to the inclusion of the UAE in peace talks, and has also said it would only accept a truce after the RSF withdraws forces from civilian areas.

The UAE has been widely accused of arming the RSF, an accusation it has denied. Gargash on Tuesday said "disingenuous claims and misinformation campaigns" would not deter his country from seeking peace. 

Gargash also said Sudan's future could not be dictated by the Muslim Brotherhood or related groups, a reference to Islamist influence in the army which Burhan has denied.

Boulos said if the U.S. moves forward with labelling the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist group, affiliates in the region could be examined.

RSF ANNOUNCES CEASEFIRE, RIVALS CALL IT A RUSE

On Monday, under international pressure after brutal attacks on civilians by his forces late last month, RSF chief Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo said his forces would enter a unilateral ceasefire immediately. It was unclear on Tuesday whether that ceasefire held. 

Boulos said he welcomed the RSF's declaration and hoped it would be upheld. "External financial and military support to the warring parties must stop," he added, without referencing specific countries.

Khalid Aleisir, a spokesman for Sudan's government, led by the army, said the RSF's announcement on Monday was a "clear political manoeuvre" meant to distract from its fighters' atrocities.

The RSF has said that reports of atrocities have been exaggerated and anyone found to have committed abuses would be held accountable.