A planned meeting of the Quartet on the Sudan crisis — comprising the United States, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates — was postponed from Wednesday to Thursday on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, after sharp disagreements among its members.
Diplomatic sources said the dispute centered on the draft communique, which was endorsed by Washington, Riyadh, and Cairo but opposed by Abu Dhabi. The draft urged the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) to withdraw immediately from El-Fasher and lift the siege, describing it as essential to open humanitarian corridors. It also contained explicit condemnation of an RSF attack on a mosque in the city that killed 75 civilians during prayers, drawing widespread outrage.
While the draft reflected consensus among three Quartet members on holding the RSF accountable for worsening humanitarian and security conditions in Darfur, the UAE’s objection blocked its adoption, forcing the postponement and reopening of consultations.
The disagreement comes at a highly sensitive moment, with the RSF continuing its months-long siege of El-Fasher, triggering UN warnings of imminent famine. The city has also faced escalations including drone and rocket attacks on residential areas and mosques, leaving hundreds dead.
Analysts argue that the UAE’s stance underscores persisting divisions on how to approach the crisis, amid repeated accusations of Abu Dhabi’s indirect support for the militia. Quartet consultations are expected to resume within hours, but observers warn that watering down explicit references to the siege and civilian attacks risks undermining the group’s credibility and eroding Sudanese trust in the international community.
