CAIRO (AP) — Peace efforts aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict in Sudan resumed in Cairo on Wednesday. Egypt and the United Nations have urged the warring parties—the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF)—to agree to a nationwide humanitarian truce, as the conflict nears its three-year mark.
During a joint news conference, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty expressed Egypt's determination to maintain Sudan's territorial integrity and institutional stability, labeling any attempt to undermine Sudanese unity as a "red line." He emphasized that Egypt would not accept the emergence of parallel entities or militias, insisting that the Sudanese army remains distinct from other groups.
The RSF and the military have been engaged in conflict since April 2023, resulting in widespread atrocities and pushing Sudan into a dire humanitarian crisis. Despite numerous failed attempts at peace negotiations, Abdelatty indicated that there is now a regional agreement in place aimed at establishing a humanitarian truce, which includes measures for troop withdrawals and the creation of safe corridors for humanitarian aid.
Massad Boulos, the senior U.S. adviser for Arab and African Affairs, also participated in the Cairo meeting. He announced that more than 1.3 metric tons of humanitarian supplies were delivered to el-Fasher, North Darfur, marking the first such assistance to reach the city since it was besieged by the RSF 18 months prior. He reiterated efforts to secure a nationwide humanitarian truce and support the timely delivery of aid to areas afflicted by famine, malnutrition, and displacement.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi discussed the situation with Boulos, emphasizing the importance of coordination between their countries to ensure stability in Sudan. El-Sissi expressed gratitude towards U.S. President Donald Trump for his role in efforts to end the ongoing war.
The United States, alongside key mediators Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates—a coalition known as the Quad—proposed a humanitarian truce that both parties reportedly accepted, although the violence has continued unabated. The Egyptian President's office stated that el-Sissi firmly opposes any actions that threaten Egyptian national security, given the close ties between the two nations.
The RSF has been accused of committing genocide in Darfur during the conflict, with multiple human rights organizations reporting war crimes linked to both the RSF and the military. The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has highlighted the devastating impact of recent violence, including a reported incident where at least 19 civilians were killed in ground operations in Jarjira, North Darfur.
On the same day, a military-allied rebel group claimed to have conducted a successful operation with the army, liberating Jarjira from RSF control. Additionally, a drone attack in Sinja, the capital of Sennar province, resulted in the deaths of at least 10 people and injuries to nine others, with the RSF accused of deliberately targeting civilians—a situation described as a “full-fledged war crime” by the Sudan Doctors Network.
The latest wave of violence has forced over 8,000 individuals to flee their homes in North Darfur, with some seeking refuge in safer areas while others cross into Chad, according to an estimate from the International Organization for Migration. The ongoing conflict continues to generate severe humanitarian implications for the region.
