Khartoum: UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Sudan, Ramtane Lamamra, called on all warring rivals on Friday to seize a proposal for a humanitarian truce in the country, describing it as a 'rare chance' to stop the fighting and protect Sudanese civilians.
According to Anadolu Agency, on Sept. 12, the Quad, which comprises the US, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, called for a three-month humanitarian truce in Sudan to enable the delivery of emergency aid to all areas as a step toward a permanent ceasefire. Lamamra emphasized the importance of this proposal in a post on US social media company X, stating that it offers an opportunity to pause the fighting, protect civilians, and ease suffering.
The UN welcomes efforts that can bring relief and hope to the Sudanese people. The envoy urged all parties to seize this opportunity to change the country's trajectory. He acknowledged the difficulty of such decisions in the midst of conflict but highlighted their necessity for saving lives and rebuilding trust.
Lamamra warned of the consequences of inaction, noting the daily reports of families fleeing in fear and atrocities that shock the conscience. He stressed that a lasting pause could pave the way for dialogue and a credible political process, which he described as the only route to achieving a just and enduring peace.
The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) announced on Thursday that it has agreed to the humanitarian truce proposed by the Quad countries. However, Khartoum has previously set conditions for any political dialogue with the RSF, including the withdrawal of the rebel group from occupied cities and its exclusion from any future political role.
The Joint Force of Armed Movements in Darfur, a coalition fighting alongside the Sudanese army, rejected any political solution that involves the RSF as an equal actor to the state. The RSF's capture of El-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur state, has raised concerns about cementing a geographic partition of the war-torn country.
Currently, the RSF controls all five states of the Darfur region, except some northern areas in North Darfur under army control. The Sudanese army maintains control over most of the remaining 13 states, including the capital, Khartoum. Despite regional and international mediation efforts, the conflict, which began on April 15, 2023, has resulted in thousands of deaths and the displacement of millions of people.