Khartoum: The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) announced on Thursday that it has accepted a humanitarian truce in Sudan put forward by the Quad countries, namely the United States, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt.

According to Anadolu Agency, the RSF expressed its intention to implement the agreement and to promptly begin discussions on the arrangements for ceasing hostilities and establishing the foundational principles for the political process in Sudan. The group highlighted the need to address the root causes of the conflict and to establish a just, comprehensive, and lasting peace in the region.

The Sudanese government has not yet responded to the RSF's statement. Previously, Khartoum had set conditions for any political dialogue with the RSF, including the withdrawal of the rebel group from occupied cities and the exclusion of the RSF from any future political role.

On the other hand, the Joint Force of Armed Movements in Darfur, which fights alongside the Sudanese army, rejected any political resolution that would treat the RSF as an equal actor to the state.

The Quad had earlier called for a three-month humanitarian truce in Sudan on September 12, aiming to facilitate the delivery of emergency aid across all regions as a step towards a permanent ceasefire. The RSF's recent capture of El-Fasher, a strategic city in North Darfur state, and the reported massacres of civilians have raised concerns about the potential geographic division of the country.

Currently, the RSF controls all five states of the Darfur region in western Sudan, with the exception of some northern areas in North Darfur that remain under army control. Meanwhile, the Sudanese army retains control over most of the remaining 13 states, including the capital, Khartoum.

Since April 15, 2023, the ongoing conflict between the Sudanese army and the RSF has resulted in thousands of deaths and the displacement of millions, despite numerous regional and international mediation efforts.