U.S. Presidential Advisor for African Affairs Mossad Boulos said that the Sudanese army has no objection in principle to a proposed three-month humanitarian ceasefire, noting preliminary approval from both sides and confirming that U.S. efforts are now focused on finalizing the details.
Speaking Monday at a press briefing at the U.S. Embassy in Cairo, Boulos explained that reaching an agreement requires time due to “complex technical, security, and logistical details,” including monitoring and implementation mechanisms. He stressed that the ultimate goal is to reach a comprehensive understanding paving the way for a post-truce phase, as outlined in the Quartet’s nine-month roadmap.
“The two sides have accepted the principle; neither expressed initial objections. Our focus now is on the fine details,” he said.
Boulos underscored that the current objective is to agree on a comprehensive ceasefire framework, which would then open the door for the next phase.
“This was highlighted in the Quartet’s September 12 statement, which mentioned both the three-month humanitarian truce and a subsequent nine-month phase,” he added.
He further stated that the U.S. has presented a working paper based on prior Quartet consensus and submitted it to both parties a week ago. “There are no direct or indirect negotiations between the sides,” he clarified, “but rather separate communication channels managed by the United States.”
Describing the humanitarian situation as “extremely urgent”, Boulos said the violence in El Fasher was “painful and condemnable in every sense,” with about 25 million Sudanese now in need of aid.
He emphasized that humanitarian action “should never be linked to political or military arrangements,” noting that Washington is coordinating with OCHA, the World Food Programme, and the Red Cross to ensure aid delivery even without a formal ceasefire.
On El Fasher, Boulos revealed that a coordination mechanism involving OCHA, the RSF, and the U.S. was established during the UN General Assembly meetings and had managed to deliver aid to surrounding areas before security conditions rendered further access impossible.
He reaffirmed the Quartet’s effectiveness, citing the participation of key nations capable of influencing events, and welcomed contributions from Qatar, the EU, Turkey, and others willing to support the peace process.
Regarding accusations of foreign military support, including Sudan’s claims of UAE involvement, Boulos said the Quartet addressed the issue in its September 12 statement, calling for a complete halt to all external assistance. He confirmed that both sides had received outside backing at different times — including reported Iranian support — which Washington found “utterly unacceptable.”
“The focus now,” he concluded, “is ending the conflict and achieving a comprehensive peace.”
Boulos warned against a repeat of the Libyan scenario in Sudan, particularly after the RSF’s capture of El Fasher and its expansion into parts of Kordofan, reiterating Washington’s opposition to the idea of parallel governments, which he said “undermines Sudan’s unity.”
In response to a Sudan Tribune question on why the U.S. has not designated the RSF as a terrorist organization despite its documented atrocities, Boulos said the current stage “is not about labeling one party or another,” noting that Washington has already condemned RSF actions in official statements and imposed sanctions on individuals from both sides, most recently in August.
“Our immediate priority,” he stressed, “is to address the humanitarian crisis urgently, achieve lasting peace, and preserve Sudan’s unity.”
