The Sudanese army conditions the withdrawal of the Rapid Support Forces from all cities to approve the American peace plan.
Khartoum insists on a full withdrawal of support before any final agreement
Written by: Mohamed Ragab
The Sudanese army stipulated the complete withdrawal of Rapid Support Forces from all cities and regions they have controlled since the outbreak of the war in April 2023, as a fundamental condition for agreeing to the American proposal aimed at ending the ongoing conflict in the country.
Documents seen by Reuters revealed that the army informed mediators of its approval of most of the terms of the American initiative, except that it expressed a major reservation regarding the presence of the Rapid Support Forces in some cities, considering that any peace agreement would not be implementable unless it included a full withdrawal of those forces from urban areas.
Humanitarian truce and political roadmap
The American proposal includes a 90-day humanitarian truce, followed by a comprehensive ceasefire, alongside the launch of political negotiations leading to the formation of a transitional civilian government, and efforts to establish a unified national army, while excluding armed formations and extremist groups from the political process.
According to the documents, the main dispute between the two parties to the conflict is the mechanism for the withdrawal of the Rapid Support Forces, as the proposal stipulates their withdrawal from some key hotspots, while the army demands a complete withdrawal from all cities without exception.
Continuation of military operations
Despite the Rapid Support Forces announcing their welcome of the American initiative, military confrontations continue in a number of states, especially in the Darfur and Kordofan regions, amid mutual accusations between the two parties regarding responsibility for the escalation.
Observers believe that reaching a final agreement will remain dependent on resolving the issue of troop deployment on the ground, as it is one of the most complex issues in the negotiation process, especially with the continued lack of trust between the two sides.
International efforts to end the war
The United States, in cooperation with a number of regional and international partners, is leading efforts to revive peace negotiations in Sudan, in an attempt to reach an agreement to end the war, which has entered its fourth year, after causing one of the world's worst humanitarian crises.
The initiative includes facilitating access of humanitarian aid to affected areas, ensuring the protection of civilians, and creating conditions for the return of the displaced and the resumption of a civilian-led political process.
