Sudanese Commander Rejects US-Proposed Ceasefire Proposal

The Condition Of Sudanese / DOC UNICEF

JAKARTA - The Sudanese commander rejected the ceasefire proposal proposed by the United States as a mediator. The proposal is considered "the worst so far."

In a video statement released by the military late Sunday, General Abdel-Fattah Burhan said the proposal was unacceptable, accusing mediators of being "bias" in their bid to end the war.

Sudan fell into chaos in April 2023 when a power struggle between the military and the powerful paramilitary Rapid Support Forces exploded into open fighting in the capital, Khartoum, and elsewhere in the country.

The devastating war killed more than 40,000 people, according to UN data.

But aid groups say it's a figure that's less than the actual number and could be much higher.

This war created the world's largest humanitarian crisis with more than 14 million people forced to flee their homes, trigger an outbreak of disease, and push some of the country into hunger.

Known as Quad, mediators have been working for more than two years to end fighting and rebuild the path to a democratic transition hampered by the military coup in 2021. They consist of the US, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates.

Earlier, President Donald Trump said he planned to pay greater attention to helping end the war in Sudan after being urged to take action by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during his visit to the White House.

Mass Boulos, US adviser on African affairs, told the Associated Press the latest proposal called for a three-month humanitarian ceasefire followed by a nine-month political process. RSF said it had agreed to the ceasefire, following global outrage over paramilitary atrocities in the city of El-Fasher, Darfur.

However, Burhan said the proposal was "considered the worst document so far, for "eliminating the Armed Forces, disbanding security agencies, and maintaining militias in place" referring to the RSF.

"If mediation continues in this direction, we will consider it a biased mediation," he said.

He criticized the US adviser and accused him of trying to "force some requirements."

"We fear that the Boulos Mass will be a barrier to the peace all Sudanese people aspire to," he said.