Full Breakdown
Why Sudan’s Humanitarian Truces Keep Failing
By Drooid · · How we work
Ongoing Conflict and Humanitarian Collapse
Fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) continues on multiple fronts, thwarting attempts to pause hostilities for aid delivery. The United Nations has warned that the humanitarian system is on the brink of collapse, and the war has forced the displacement of millions while causing tens of thousands of deaths, creating one of the world’s worst crises.
Background: Political Stakes and Past Mediation Attempts
The civil war erupted in April 2023 after months of tension between SAF commander Lieutenant General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (“Hemedti”). Early mediation, such as the May 2023 Jeddah Declaration brokered by the United States and Saudi Arabia, yielded only short-lived humanitarian access before both sides repeatedly violated its terms. Regional bodies—including the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the African Union (AU)—have similarly seen localized truces collapse within hours.
Official Statements & Responses
U.S. Washington has also pushed a new diplomatic track, the Aligned for Advancing Lifesaving and Peace in Sudan (ALPS) initiative, seeking direct negotiations and humanitarian pauses. However, analysts such as former U.S. envoy adviser Cameron Hudson argue that the United States has relied chiefly on pressure—sanctions, accusations of chemical-weapon use, and diplomatic isolation—without offering incentives that might motivate the warring parties toward peace.
Criticism & Opposition
Sudanese academic and Al-Wasat newspaper editor-in-chief Fathi Abu Ammar contends that SAF leadership deliberately stalls negotiations to preserve its grip on power, accusing al-Burhan and chief of staff Yasser al-Atta of rejecting peace efforts that serve the Sudanese people. Director Mohammed Ibrahim al-Rashid of the Center for International Political Relations Studies argues that the RSF faces a diplomatic defeat in the Security Council, suggesting that SAF advances could eventually enable a peace that benefits civilians rather than reproducing the militia’s influence.
Verbatim Quotes
- “All these efforts that serve the interest of the Sudanese people primarily were rejected by the army, rejected by al-Burhan and Yasser al-Atta (chief of staff of the SAF), and they all tried to obstruct them by setting broad lines for the peace they want,” — Abu Ammar, a Sudanese academic and editor-in-chief of Al-Wasat newspaper