Sudan dismisses RSF truce declaration as political deception

Sudan's government has sharply criticized the unilateral humanitarian ceasefire declared by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), labeling the move as a deceptive political tactic. The rejection comes just one day after RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo announced a three-month truce purportedly to facilitate aid delivery in the conflict-ridden nation.

Government Accusations of Bad Faith

Sudanese Minister of Culture, Information, and Tourism Khalid Al-Ayasir issued a statement describing the RSF's truce announcement as “nothing more than a blatant political maneuver that starkly contrasts with the grim reality his forces have created on the ground.” He accused the RSF of besieging civilians, conducting drone strikes, and burying people alive in cities like El-Fasher and Bara, making it impossible to take the truce proposal seriously.

History of Ceasefire Violations

The minister further alleged that the RSF has previously exploited truce agreements, specifically mentioning the Jeddah Declaration of May 2023, to smuggle weapons and achieve military advantages. This pattern of behavior, he argued, has undermined past mediation efforts by the United States and Saudi Arabia, ultimately leading to the suspension of those talks due to repeated violations by both sides in Sudan's ongoing conflict.

Call for Implementation of Government Roadmap

Instead of the RSF's unilateral declaration, Ayasir pointed to the roadmap submitted by Transitional Sovereignty Council Chairman Abdel Fattah al-Burhan to the United Nations as “the most effective path” toward a permanent ceasefire. The government's plan emphasizes inclusive national dialogue, forming a technocratic government, and the disarmament of militant groups as prerequisites for meaningful negotiations to resolve the devastating conflict that has killed thousands and displaced millions since April 2023.