Sudan’s military has insisted that the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) must fully withdraw from all occupied urban areas before it will consider broadly accepting a U.S.-brokered plan aimed at ending the country's ongoing civil conflict. This stance was detailed in documents reviewed by Reuters and confirmed by senior Sudanese officials.
The conflict, which has persisted for over three years, has involved repeated clashes between the Sudanese army and the RSF, a powerful paramilitary group. The U.S. proposal, presented last month, calls for an immediate 90-day humanitarian ceasefire to halt hostilities, creating space for negotiations toward a permanent ceasefire and the establishment of a civilian-led transitional government responsible for organizing elections.
According to the documents, the Sudanese army views the RSF’s presence in key cities as a significant obstacle to peace. The military’s position is that the RSF’s withdrawal from these areas is a prerequisite to any substantial engagement with the peace plan. This demand reflects ongoing tensions between the army and the RSF over control of territory and political power.
The U.S. initiative aims to foster dialogue between the conflicting parties to end the humanitarian crisis affecting millions of Sudanese, with emphasis on restoring security and facilitating humanitarian aid. However, the Sudanese military’s insistence on RSF withdrawal before agreeing to the truce complicates the prospects for immediate ceasefire implementation.
Efforts to negotiate peace have faced repeated challenges, as both sides maintain mutually exclusive demands and deep mistrust. The RSF has not publicly responded to the military’s conditions, and it remains unclear whether the group will accept the full withdrawal from urban centers or the terms outlined in the U.S. proposal.
Sudan’s protracted conflict has resulted in significant civilian casualties, displacement, and deterioration of basic services. International actors continue to call for urgent political resolution and humanitarian access, while the situation on the ground remains volatile. The military’s prerequisite for RSF withdrawal highlights the complex dynamics that must be addressed for any meaningful progress toward peace.