Africa — 2026-07-16

Sudanese Army Gives Conditional Approval to US Ceasefire Proposal While RSF Accepts Truce but Rejects Withdrawal

BLUFBoth sides' formal acceptance of the full US-backed ceasefire proposal, including RSF withdrawal, within 30 days is very unlikely given each party's incompatible preconditions.

Sudan's Security and Defense Council, chaired by Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, said Sunday it had agreed a unified response to the mediators' proposal, which Reuters reported conditions army acceptance on RSF withdrawal from cities it holds 1. Under the US-backed plan, which includes a 90-day humanitarian truce and phased UN-monitored RSF withdrawals 1, Sudan Tribune reported the RSF accepted the truce but rejected the withdrawal provision 2. Radio Dabanga separately cited analysts describing the army's stance as conditional approval reviving its demand that RSF quit towns and cities before signing 3. US Senior Advisor Massad Boulos disputed that characterization on X, saying claims that key issues are settled are inaccurate, several substantive points remain unresolved, and any agreement would be formally announced 3.

Analysis
Full sign-off by both SAF and RSF on the US-backed proposal, including the disputed withdrawal provision, within 30 days is very unlikely. Burhan's Security and Defense Council has centralized authority over the peace file and hardened the demand that RSF quit towns and cities first, a stance battlefield gains in Darfur and Kordofan reinforce rather than soften. RSF's rejection of phased withdrawal strips out the element Washington treats as central to any UN-monitored transition, and Boulos's public rebuttal shows Washington itself disputes claims that the sides have converged. This judgment carries low confidence, resting on secondary analyst commentary rather than direct access to either side's negotiating position.

3 sources

Sudan says it has agreed to a response to mediators' peace proposal - Darfur24
RSF accepts truce but rejects withdrawal in U.S. Sudan peace plan - Sudan Tribune
Sudanese armys provisional nod to US ceasefire proposal reshapes negotiation landscape - Dabanga