The Trump administration’s attempt to secure a peace deal in Sudan is likely to fail, with Abdel-Fattah Burhan, a senior Sudanese general, expressing strong opposition to the US-led ceasefire proposal aimed at ending the war that has raged in Sudan since 2023.
General Burhan denounces the proposal as « the worst document to date » and accuses the US of trying to « impose conditions on us ».
At war since 2023
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 took control in 2019 quickly turned into one of the world’s deadliest urban wars, devastating Khartoum and spreading to Darfur and other regions. Millions of civilians were displaced, basic services collapsed and widespread atrocities were reported, particularly in Darfur where ethnic targeting resurfaced. Despite multiple international attempts at mediation, a lasting ceasefire was not possible, with both sides accusing each other of atrocities and refusing to give ground.
United States accused of « biased mediation
Abdel-Fattah Burhan insisted that « nobody can threaten us or dictate conditions to us », while rejecting accusations of warmongering: « We are not warmongers and we do not reject peace ». He stressed, however, that his army would only agree to a ceasefire when the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) withdrew completely from civilian areas. Sudan’s top general called the US mediation attempt a « biased mediation », claiming that it « eliminates the armed forces », « dissolves the security agencies » and « keeps the militias 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 basis for the next round of negotiations.
Several international players, including the UN, the African Union and key Arab states, had seen the US proposal as the last serious attempt to secure a pause in the fighting. On the US side, officials privately claim that Burhan’s stance is primarily aimed at buying time on the ground and consolidating its military lines. For the Trump administration, this setback is significant, as Trump was particularly keen to add Sudan to his list of peace deal trophies.
