US-led ceasefire plan collapses as Sudan labels it «worst yet»

For the Trump administration, the setback is significant, as Trump was particularly eager to add Sudan to his self-styled peace agreement trophy list.

The Trump administration’s attempt to secure a peace agreement in Sudan is at high risk of collapse, as Abdel-Fattah Burhan, a top Sudanese general, voices his strong opposition to the US-led ceasefire proposal aimed at stopping the war that has raged in Sudan since 2023.

General Burhan denounces the proposal as «the worst document yet» and accuses the US of trying to «impose some conditions on us».

The conflict in Sudan, which escalated dramatically in 2023, pits the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), led by Sudan’s de facto leader Abdel-Fattah Burhan, against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) commanded by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti.

What began as a power struggle between two former allies who jointly seized control in 2019 quickly turned into one of the world’s deadliest urban wars, devastating Khartoum and spreading across Darfur and other regions. Millions of civilians have been displaced, basic services have collapsed, and widespread atrocities have been reported, particularly in Darfur where ethnic targeting has resurfaced.

Despite multiple international attempts at mediation, a durable ceasefire has remained elusive, as both sides accuse each other of atrocities and refuse to concede ground.

Abdel-Fattah Burhan insisted that «no one can threaten us or dictate terms to us» as he rejected accusations of warmongering, saying «We’re not warmongers, and we don’t reject peace». However, he stressed that his military will only accept a ceasefire when the RSF (Rapid Support Forces) completely withdraws from civilian areas.

Sudan’s top general described the US mediation attempt as «biased mediation», saying it «eliminates the Armed Forces», «dissolves security agencies» and «keeps the militia where they are», and accused the Trump administration of lying.

Burhan’s rejection further complicates ongoing diplomatic efforts, as the US plan had been presented as the foundation for the next round of negotiations. Several international actors, including the UN, the African Union and key Arab states, had viewed the US proposal as the last serious attempt to secure a pause in the fighting.

On the US side, officials privately argue that Burhan’s stance is primarily aimed at buying time on the ground and consolidating his military lines. For the Trump administration, the setback is significant, as Trump was particularly eager to add Sudan to his self-styled peace agreement trophy list.