CAIRO: Sudan’s top general rejected a ceasefire proposal provided by US-led mediators as “the worst yet,” in a blow to efforts to stop a devastating war that has gripped the African country for over 30 months.
In video comments released by the military late Sunday, Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan said the proposal was unacceptable, accusing the mediators of being “biased” in their efforts to end the war.
Sudan plunged into chaos in April 2023 when a power struggle between the military and the powerful paramilitary Rapid Support Forces exploded into open fighting in the capital, Khartoum, and elsewhere in the country.
The devastating war has killed more than 40,000 people, according to UN figures, but aid groups say that is an undercount and the true number could be many times higher. It created the world’s largest humanitarian crisis with over 14 million people forced to flee their homes, fueled disease outbreaks and pushed parts of the country into famine.
Known as the Quad, the mediators have been trying for over two years to bring an end to the fighting and reestablish a path to democratic transition which was hampered by a military coup in 2021. They are comprised of the US, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates.
This month, President Donald Trump said that he plans to put greater attention on helping find an end to Sudan’s war after being urged to take action by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during his visit to the White House.
Massad Boulos, a US adviser for African affairs, told The Associated Press earlier that the latest proposal calls for a three-month humanitarian truce followed by a nine-month political process. The RSF said it has agreed to the truce, following global outrage over the paramilitaries’ atrocities in the Darfur city of el-Fasher.
Burhan, however, said the proposal “is considered the worst document yet,” since it “eliminates the Armed Forces, dissolves security agencies and keeps the militia where they are” — referring to the RSF.
“If the mediation continues in this direction, we will consider it to be biased mediation,” he said.
He lashed out at the US adviser and accused him of attempting to “impose some conditions on us.” He added: “We fear that Massad Boulos will be an obstacle to the peace that all the people of Sudan seek.”
Burhan denied that the military is controlled by Islamists or that it used chemical weapons in its fighting against the RSF — an accusation leveled by the Trump administration in May.
Burhan said the military will only agree to a truce when the RSF completely withdraws from civilian areas to allow the return of displaced people to their homes, before embarking on talks for a political settlement to the conflict.
“We’re not warmongers, and we don’t reject peace,” he said, “but no one can threaten us or dictate terms to us.”
Sudan’s top general rejects US-led ceasefire proposal, calling it ‘the worst yet’
https://arab.news/22p5d
Sudan’s top general rejects US-led ceasefire proposal, calling it ‘the worst yet’
- The proposal aimed to halt a devastating war that has gripped Sudan for over 30 months
- The conflict has killed at least 40,000 people and created a massive humanitarian crisis
Iran envoy: Saudi Arabia a pivotal partner, relations ‘fortified’
- ‘Our contacts continue at all levels,’ Ambassador Alireza Enayati tells Asharq Al-Awsat
- Alireza Enayati: Iran and the Kingdom are keen on the security and stability of the region
RIYADH: A senior Iranian official said that relations with Saudi Arabia are “fortified” and cannot be undermined, highlighting both nations’ shared commitment to regional security and stability.
Alireza Enayati, Iran’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, said in an exclusive interview with Asharq Al-Awsat that both countries are committed to preventing escalation and avoiding actions that could destabilize the region.
He added that contacts and coordination between the two countries are taking place at various levels, including visits, meetings and private discussions.
Enayati said: “We must recognize the sensitivity of the current situation amid repeated threats facing the region and the risk of sliding into unprecedented escalation.
“In Iran, we believe that regional stability serves the interests of all countries in the region, and we have repeatedly sensed this affirmation during our meetings and encounters with Saudi officials.”
A senior Saudi official had told Asharq Al-Awsat on Saturday that reports circulated by some media outlets about a change in the Kingdom’s position regarding escalation in the region were inaccurate.
The source said that Saudi Arabia supports efforts aimed at reaching a peaceful solution to all disputed issues between the US and Iran through dialogue and diplomatic means, stressing the Kingdom’s rejection of the use of its airspace or territory for any military actions against Iran.
Enayati pointed to the existence of “ongoing contacts and exchanges between the two countries at various levels, including visits and meetings — some of which are public, while others are held away from the media.”
The Iranian diplomat said that Tehran “considers Saudi Arabia a pivotal and influential state in the region,” adding that cooperation between the two countries on issues of mutual interest “contributes to strengthening the region’s security and stability.”
He said: “Iran and the Kingdom are keen on the security and stability of the region, and emphasize the need to avoid escalation and steer clear of anything that could disturb regional calm.”
Consultations are taking place between the two sides “stemming from a strategic conviction that has crystallized for both parties and serves their interests as well as those of the region as a whole,” Enayati added.
“The Kingdom views Iran as a reliable partner, while Iran regards Saudi Arabia as an important and effective state in the region, and their cooperation on issues of mutual interest helps consolidate regional security and stability.”
The ambassador said: “These relations are fortified and cannot be undermined, thanks to the leadership of both countries and their understanding of the inevitability of these relations, ensuring their continuity and growth, and the reflection of their positive effects on all.”
Enayati recalled the Saudi position in support of Tehran during its recent war with Israel, saying: “Iran welcomed the Saudi position supporting it during the war imposed on it, as Saudi Arabia strongly condemned the Israeli aggression against Iran, and we received a phone call that morning from the Saudi foreign minister. This stance was not surprising from our Saudi brothers, who stood by us during that phase.”
He added: “Second, any harm to Iran affects the security of the entire region, and this was clearly reflected in constructive positions, including that of the Kingdom. Third, the attack on Iran comes within a series of Israeli attacks that have targeted countries across the region, and no state is immune from these aggressions.”
Regarding talk of a negotiating framework taking shape between Iran and the US, Enayati said that Iran “entered the negotiations in 2015 and 2025 with full seriousness, but the US withdrew from them and dealt with them in a contradictory manner.”
He added: “If the US is serious about an equal dialogue without preconditions, Iran welcomes that, and Iranian officials have repeatedly affirmed this position.
“We recently heard statements indicating that the two sides are working to establish a framework for negotiations; however, negotiations cannot begin with predetermined outcomes. Rather, their results must emerge from the negotiating process itself, not be imposed on it in advance.”
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, during a phone call he received from Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian last week, highlighted the Kingdom’s support for any efforts aimed at resolving disputes through dialogue in a manner that enhances regional security and stability.
During the call, the Saudi crown prince stressed Riyadh’s position on respecting Iran’s sovereignty and the Kingdom’s refusal to allow the use of its airspace or territory for any military actions against Iran, or for attacks by any party, regardless of their direction.
Pezeshkian expressed his gratitude to Saudi Arabia for its respect of Iran’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and his appreciation for the crown prince’s efforts and initiatives to achieve regional security and stability.
