KHARTOUM – Sudan’s Security and Defence Council said it has finalized a “consensus” response to a peace proposal presented by international mediators, while denying the authenticity of documents circulated in recent days purporting to reveal the government’s position on the initiative.
The council said in a statement following its regular meeting, chaired by Transitional Sovereignty Council Chairman and Commander-in-Chief of the Sudanese Armed Forces Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, that it had held an in-depth discussion of the mediators’ proposal in its capacity as “the sole authority responsible for issues related to war, peace and negotiations.”
The statement thanked the mediating countries for their efforts and reaffirmed Sudan’s commitment to engaging with initiatives that serve the country’s interests while preserving its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The meeting came after documents purportedly outlining the mediators’ proposal circulated publicly. Reuters reported this week that draft documents included a U.S. proposal for a 90-day ceasefire, followed by negotiations aimed at securing a permanent cessation of hostilities and relaunching a political process.
The council said it had prepared an agreed response to the proposal and stressed that “the leaked documents and information circulated on social media are inaccurate.” It urged the public to refrain from sharing information that could affect national security or undermine future peace efforts.
According to documents reviewed by Reuters, the Sudanese government accepted several elements of the proposal but insisted that the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) must withdraw from all cities and areas seized since the outbreak of the conflict as a prerequisite for any ceasefire agreement.
The council reiterated the Sudanese government’s openness to initiatives that meet the aspirations of the Sudanese people while safeguarding the country’s unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the RSF, which erupted in April 2023, has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced more than 14 million, while the United Nations has described the conflict as the world’s largest displacement and humanitarian crisis.
The United States, together with Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, has been leading diplomatic efforts to revive negotiations between the SAF and the RSF after previous mediation rounds stalled. Sudan’s government has repeatedly said that any political process must be based on a permanent ceasefire, the withdrawal of RSF forces from areas under their control and full respect for Sudan’s sovereignty.
At the start of the meeting, the Security and Defence Council also congratulated the Sudanese Armed Forces, other security forces, allied forces and the Popular Resistance on what it described as military gains across multiple fronts. It also paid tribute to those killed in the conflict and wished a speedy recovery to the wounded and the safe return of prisoners and missing persons.
