Sudanese armed groups reject equal status for RSF in peace talks

The Joint Force of Armed Movements in Darfur has firmly rejected any political settlement that would grant the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces equal standing with Sudan's legitimate government institutions. In an official statement released Wednesday, the coalition fighting alongside the Sudanese army declared its "full and unwavering support for the will of the Sudanese people, who reject any settlement or solution that creates a distorted reality by equating the legitimate state with an outlawed militia."

Coalition Composition and Political Stance

The Joint Force comprises armed groups that previously signed the Juba Agreement for Peace in Sudan with the government in 2020, including prominent movements led by key political figures Gibril Ibrahim and Darfur Regional Governor Minni Arko Minnawi. The coalition praised the Sudanese government and army's position in defending national sovereignty while confronting what they described as the "killing and destruction machine of the RSF militia, which receives open foreign support."

Call for National Mobilization and US Truce Proposal

The armed groups urged Sudanese citizens to support legitimate state institutions, the army, and allied movements "at this critical stage," calling for comprehensive national mobilization efforts until achieving "complete victory." This declaration emerged as the United States proposed a three-month humanitarian truce to both the Sudanese government and RSF as a preliminary step toward establishing a permanent ceasefire, though neither party has issued an official response to the American initiative.

Territorial Control and Conflict Background

The RSF currently maintains control over all five states in the Darfur region except certain northern areas of North Darfur under army authority. Meanwhile, the Sudanese army governs most of the remaining thirteen states across southern, northern, eastern, and central regions, including the capital Khartoum. The conflict between the Sudanese army and RSF that began on April 15, 2023, has resulted in thousands of fatalities and displaced millions throughout the country despite numerous regional and international mediation attempts.