“Worst paper ever presented”

Sudan’s rulers oppose Trump

“Worst paper ever presented”

Hope emerged in Sudan when the RSF militia agreed to a ceasefire. The army was silent for a long time – and now came back with clear words.

Sudanese ruler Abdel Fattah al-Burhan has clearly rejected the proposed ceasefire in the conflict between the army and the RSF militia. The draft submitted by US government adviser Massad Boulos was “the worst paper ever submitted,” the general said in a meeting with top military officials, according to a military statement. The United States mediates the conflict along with Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Al-Burhan seized power in Sudan in 2021 with the head of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia, Mohammed Hamdan Daglo (Hemeti). In 2023, the RSF with tens of thousands of fighters rebelled against its incorporation into the regular army and began attacks on the military and civilians. Now they control about half of Sudan’s population.

The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) then unilaterally declared a three-month humanitarian ceasefire. This happened because of international efforts, especially those of US President Donald Trump, Hemeti said in his speech on Monday.

Sudan accuses the UAE of supporting the RSF militia with weapons from the start of the conflict – something UN experts and diplomats see but the UAE rejects. In early November, the RSF agreed to a ceasefire, but then attacked government forces with drones. The conflict then continued. According to the UN, around 40,000 people have been displaced by violence in the Kordofan region since late October, and many people have been killed.

“We are not supporters of war and we do not reject peace, but no one can threaten us or impose conditions on us,” al-Burhan said, according to the statement. A ceasefire is only possible if the RSF withdraws from all towns they have captured since May 2023. The army seeks to retake all territory in the Darfur and Kordofan regions and expel the militias from the country.

As long as the UAE is part of the four-party mediator group, Sudan does not view them as neutral. The UAE is not accepted as an intermediary, al-Burhan said. At the same time, he praised Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for his efforts. During his visit to Washington, he asked US President Donald Trump to end the war.