Khartoum (TDI): Sudan’s Army Chief Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan has dismissed a ceasefire proposal put forward by US-led mediators, describing it as “the worst document yet” and accusing the mediators of siding with his rivals.
His remarks, released in a video by the Sudanese military late Sunday, dealt a major setback to ongoing efforts aimed at ending the country’s brutal conflict, now in its 30th month.
Sudan has been engulfed in war since April 2023, when a long-simmering power struggle between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) erupted into open combat in Khartoum and across several regions. The conflict has killed more than 40,000 people, according to the United Nations, though aid agencies believe the real toll is far higher. More than 14 million people have fled their homes, disease outbreaks have spread, and parts of the country are already in famine.
The mediation group, known as the Quad and comprising the United States, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, has been trying to negotiate a truce and restart a democratic transition that had been derailed by the military coup in 2021.
Earlier this month, US President Donald Trump said he intended to give Sudan renewed attention after Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman urged him to intervene during a visit to the White House.
Read More: Trump to Engage on Sudan War at Saudi Arabia’s Request
Burhan, however, rejected the proposal outright, arguing that it weakens Sudan’s national institutions. He claimed the plan “dissolves the security services, eliminates the Armed Forces, and leaves the militias where they are”, a reference to the RSF, which the army views as an illegitimate armed group.
“If this direction continues, the mediation will be considered biased,” he warned. Burhan also accused Boulos of attempting to “impose conditions” on the military, adding that “we fear he may become an obstacle to the peace Sudanese people are seeking.”
Responding to accusations from the Trump administration that the military used chemical weapons, Burhan denied the claim and dismissed allegations that the army is controlled by Islamist factions.
Read More: What Is Happening in Sudan and Why It Is Not Getting the Attention It Deserves
He said the military is not opposed to peace but insisted that any ceasefire must begin with the RSF withdrawing entirely from civilian areas to allow displaced families to return home. Only then, he added, can talks move forward on a political settlement.
“We do not seek war,” Burhan said. “We do not reject peace. But no one has the right to threaten us or dictate terms t
