On November 6, 2025, Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) declared their acceptance of a U.S.-led proposal for a humanitarian ceasefire, a move that could mark a turning point in a brutal civil war that has ravaged the nation for over two years. The announcement, which came via a statement from the RSF, has raised both cautious hope and deep skepticism among observers, given the devastating toll of the conflict and the checkered history of failed truces.
The ceasefire proposal, crafted by a coalition known as the Quad—comprising the United States, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates—aims to open the door for urgent humanitarian aid to reach millions of Sudanese suffering from violence, famine, and disease. The RSF, widely accused of carrying out atrocities, especially in the western city of El-Fasher, said it agreed to the truce “in order to address the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of the war and to enhance the protection of civilians.” The group added that the agreement would “ensure the urgent delivery of humanitarian assistance to all Sudanese people.” (Reuters, NBC News)
But even as the RSF signaled its willingness to halt hostilities, the Sudanese military—the group’s bitter adversary—remained noncommittal. According to a Sudanese army official who spoke to The Associated Press, the military would only consider a truce if the RSF withdrew from civilian areas and surrendered its weapons. The army’s reluctance was underscored by a statement reaffirming its commitment to defeating the RSF by force, rather than through negotiation. (The New York Times, AP)
The roots of Sudan’s current crisis stretch back to April 2023, when tensions between the military, led by Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, and the RSF, commanded by Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo (widely known as Hemedti), erupted into open warfare. The two factions, once partners in a transitional government following the 2019 ouster of longtime ruler Omar al-Bashir, saw their alliance collapse amid disputes over integrating their forces and managing the shift to civilian rule. (NBC News, AP)
Since then, the conflict has spiraled into what the United Nations and humanitarian groups now describe as the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. More than 40,000 people have been killed, according to United Nations figures, though aid organizations warn the real death toll may be far higher. Over 14 million people have been displaced from their homes, and at least 24 million are facing acute food insecurity. The World Food Program has identified famine conditions in both Darfur and South Kordofan, with the city of El-Fasher—recently seized by the RSF after an 18-month siege—at the epicenter of the disaster. (WHO, World Food Program, AP, UN News)
Eyewitness accounts and satellite imagery paint a harrowing picture of life in El-Fasher. Civilians fleeing the city have described scenes of chaos and horror: bodies littering the roads, people collapsing from exhaustion and abuse, and relentless attacks from drones and artillery. “In el-Fasher, there’s nothing but beating and killing using drones in the sky that you can’t see but it hits you. The drone strikes you without you feeling it,” recounted Rawda Mohamed, who escaped to the Al-Affad displacement camp, some 350 kilometers from Khartoum. (AP)
Reports from humanitarian groups and researchers have corroborated these stories. The Humanitarian Research Lab at the Yale School of Public Health analyzed satellite images showing blood in the sand and piles of bodies in El-Fasher, while the Norwegian Refugee Council reported that people have been surviving on animal food and rainwater, sheltering in holes dug in the ground for safety. Those who tried to flee were often attacked, according to advocacy manager Mathilde Vu. (NBC News, NRC)
The RSF’s actions in El-Fasher, including alleged mass killings and abductions, have drawn international outrage. The United States, in January 2025, determined that RSF members and allied militias had committed genocide and imposed sanctions on Dagalo and other leaders. The RSF’s leader, for his part, has publicly called on fighters to protect civilians and promised to prosecute violations, but skeptics question whether these pledges will be honored. (NBC News, Reuters)
The humanitarian dimensions of the crisis are staggering. Islamic Relief, a nonprofit organization, recently warned that community kitchens—a lifeline for countless families—are on the brink of collapse. A survey by the group found that 83% of families in east and west Sudan lack enough food. AbdulHakim Elwaer, the regional representative for the Near East and North Africa, emphasized the man-made nature of the famine: “We’re not talking about natural disasters because there is ongoing conflict, insecurity, the inability to access food, and the lack of humanitarian corridors that ensures people in much need obtain food.” (AP)
The ceasefire proposal, if implemented, could help open these desperately needed humanitarian corridors. The United States, through a State Department spokesperson, urged both sides “to move forward in response to the U.S.-led effort to conclude a humanitarian truce, given the immediate urgency of de-escalating the violence and ending the suffering of the Sudanese people.” Massad Boulos, a U.S. adviser for African affairs, expressed optimism that an announcement could come soon. (Reuters, AP)
Yet, the road to peace is littered with failed attempts. Both the RSF and the Sudanese army have agreed to various ceasefire proposals during the two-and-a-half-year-old war, but none have held. Influential leaders within the army remain wary, and previous peace talks have foundered on the same issues now being debated: control of territory, disarmament, and the future political process. (Reuters, AP)
For the millions of Sudanese caught in the crossfire, the stakes could not be higher. Othman Mohamed, a teacher who fled El-Fasher, described the harrowing journey out of the city: “I saw bodies scattered along the road and people collapsing from exhaustion and abuse during the journey.” Displaced people now fill camps like Al-Affad, hoping for aid and some measure of safety, even as violence and hunger continue to stalk the country. (AP)
The United Nations, the United States, and other international actors have pledged to keep pressing both sides to make the ceasefire a reality. But as Sudan’s military and the RSF dig in, the prospect of lasting peace remains uncertain. The coming days will reveal whether this latest truce can achieve what so many before it have not: an end to the bloodshed and a chance for Sudan’s people to begin rebuilding their shattered lives.
