Sudan’s Army Chief rejects U.S.-backed quad truce proposal
Sudan’s army chief and head of the Sovereign Council, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, sharply criticized a cease-fire proposal presented by the U.S.-supported Quad Mechanism, calling the document “unacceptable” and accusing Washington’s envoy Massad Boulos of bias. His remarks came during a meeting with senior military officers, according to an official statement released on Sunday.
Burhan claimed that the proposal, delivered by Boulos, undermines the Sudanese Armed Forces by advocating the dissolution of security institutions while allowing the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) to maintain control of their current positions. Although he did not reveal the full content of the document, he insisted it represented the “worst” proposal submitted to Sudan during the conflict.
The Quad — comprising Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the UAE, and the United States — previously called on Sept. 12 for a three-month humanitarian truce to enable aid access across Sudan, followed by a nine-month transitional roadmap aimed at establishing an accountable civilian government.
Burhan warned that continued mediation along the same lines would be viewed as non-neutral. He accused Boulos of issuing threats, including allegations that the Sudanese government obstructed humanitarian convoys or used chemical weapons. “This document is unacceptable,” he said, insisting that any negotiations must be guided by the Sudanese government’s own roadmap, unveiled in February.
Khartoum’s plan centers on launching an inclusive national dialogue, forming a technocratic government, and requiring all armed groups to withdraw from civilian areas as a precondition for talks.
Burhan also rejected U.S. claims suggesting “Muslim Brotherhood influence” within the army, dismissing the allegations as misinformation used to pressure regional actors. He accused the RSF of committing acts of “genocide and ethnic cleansing” and said unnamed countries and political groups were supporting the militia in ways Sudan considers unacceptable.
“We are not advocates of war, nor do we reject peace,” Burhan said. “But no one can threaten us or impose conditions on us.”
Since April 2023, Sudan has been engulfed in a devastating conflict between the army and the RSF, with regional and international mediation efforts repeatedly failing to secure a lasting cease-fire. The war has killed thousands and displaced millions.
