RSF leader declares three-month truce after army rejects U.S. proposal

NYALA – The commander of Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, declared an immediate three-month humanitarian truce on Monday, directly challenging the Sudanese army chief’s outright rejection of a U.S.-backed peace plan just a day earlier.

In a pre-recorded address, Hemedti announced the RSF’s acceptance of the humanitarian pause to “strengthen the protection of civilians” and facilitate aid delivery, citing efforts by the Quad nations (U.S., U.K., Saudi Arabia, and UAE), the African Union, and IGAD.

The move positions the RSF as the party willing to accept international proposals, contrasting sharply with the stance of the army, led by Abdelfattah al-Burhan, who on Sunday condemned the U.S. proposal as an attempt to dismantle the armed forces and legitimize the RSF.

Hemedti stressed that ending the bloodshed has become an “urgent duty,” stating that the war has exhausted the Sudanese people. He called on the Quad countries to encourage the army to respond to the RSF’s declared commitment.

The truce, Hemedti said, would be the first step toward a comprehensive political solution to the root causes of the crisis.

“The Rapid Support Forces and all forces allied with us hereby declare our immediate approval of a humanitarian truce extending for three months, in order to strengthen the protection of civilians, facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid, and open a window of hope for our people who have been exhausted by this war,” he said.

“We hope that the Quad countries will play their role in encouraging the other party to respond to this step and to the international efforts aimed at achieving the interests of the Sudanese people,” he added.

The RSF commander outlined his forces’ commitments to easing civilian suffering, including securing the movement of humanitarian workers, ensuring aid reaches all affected areas without restrictions, and protecting warehouses belonging to humanitarian organizations.

He announced his approval for the establishment of a field-based monitoring mechanism for the humanitarian truce, to be led by the Quad countries, the African Union, and IGAD, to ensure its implementation and the safe delivery of assistance.

“We announce our approval for the establishment of a field monitoring mechanism for the humanitarian truce, to be led by the Quad countries, the African Union, and IGAD, in order to ensure its implementation and the safe delivery of humanitarian assistance to all those in need,” he said.

Addressing reports of atrocities, Hemedti reaffirmed the RSF’s full commitment to holding accountable anyone proven to be involved in violations against civilians, stating that “justice will take its course according to national laws and international law.”

He noted that professional investigative procedures have been initiated, with results to be made public.

“We reaffirm our full commitment to holding accountable any person proven to be involved in violations against civilians, under any justification or circumstance. We have initiated clear and professional investigative procedures, and the results will be made public with full transparency once completed,” he said.

“We stress that justice will take its course according to national laws and international law, and that no perpetrator of violations — regardless of their position or rank — will escape accountability,” he added.

Hemedti reaffirmed his acceptance to an inclusive political process but explicitly excluded Islamist such as the National Congress Party (the party of deposed leader Omar al-Bashir) and its fronts, arguing they bear responsibility for decades of national tragedy.

Hemedti’s declaration came just a day after General al-Burhan lashed out at the U.S. proposal delivered by a regional envoy, calling the draft put forth by the four-nation Quad “the worst yet” submitted to the military leadership.

Al-Burhan had asserted that the proposal called for dissolving Sudan’s security services while allowing RSF units to remain entrenched in captured cities in Darfur and Kordofan states.

“Any initiative that recognizes the rebels, we do not accept,” al-Burhan had said, referring to the RSF.