Sudan's Fragile Truce: RSF Agrees to Ceasefire Amid Escalating Humanitarian Crisis

The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan have given their agreement in principle to observe a three-month humanitarian ceasefire. This crucial development, announced on November 7, 2025, was initiated by the United States and the “Quadriga” alliance, which includes Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates. The primary objective of this temporary arrangement is to alleviate the devastating consequences of the protracted conflict and facilitate the delivery of essential aid to Sudan’s civilian population.

This acceptance follows a significant military victory for the RSF: the seizure of El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur state, on October 26, 2025. This city had been under a prolonged siege and represented the final stronghold of government forces in the region.

Despite the declared willingness of the RSF to observe a truce, the prospects for peace remain severely undermined by persistent reports of grave human rights abuses and widespread violence. Eyewitness accounts detail mass killings that occurred during the assault on El Fasher. Furthermore, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed the tragic deaths of more than 460 patients and medical personnel at a former children's hospital during the city's takeover. Such incidents, alongside allegations of other atrocities, including rape, necessitate extreme caution regarding any claims of a definitive cessation of hostilities.

While the RSF accepted the proposed ceasefire, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) have yet to issue an official response. Army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan has previously maintained a hardline stance, insisting that military operations will continue until the RSF is completely disarmed and withdrawn from all civilian areas. Compounding this deep-seated opposition, Sudan’s Security and Defense Council declared a general mobilization of the populace to support the armed forces on November 4, highlighting the intensity of the ongoing confrontation.

The conflict, which erupted in April 2023, has triggered what is now recognized as the world’s largest displacement crisis. Estimates indicate that over 14 million people have been forcibly displaced from their homes. The food security situation has reached a critical juncture: a UN-backed analysis reveals that more than 21 million individuals across the nation are experiencing acute food shortages. Conditions of famine have been documented in areas such as El Fasher and Kadugli, where residents are reportedly resorting to eating grass and animal feed. Approximately 375,000 people are currently enduring the “catastrophic” fifth phase of food insecurity.

Amidst these harrowing developments, the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) has initiated the collection of evidence concerning mass killings, rapes, and other alleged atrocities committed in El Fasher following its capture. The international community, led by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, continues to press for an immediate end to the violence, warning that the crisis is “out of control.” This potential truce, precarious though it may seem, offers a vital, albeit narrow, window of opportunity to redirect efforts toward meeting basic humanitarian needs and initiating meaningful dialogue.