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Khartoum rejects US roadmap
Khartoum rejected a Washington ceasefire roadmap presented to the UN Security Council by Massad Boulos, with the Sudanese foreign ministry saying in a communiqué that «Toute proposition qui ne prendrait pas en compte les intérêts supérieurs du pays ne sera pas approuvée par le gouvernement et ne sera pas mise en œuvre.»
“Cinq jours après la présentation du plan américain devant le Conseil de sécurité de l’ONU, Khartoum a rejeté la feuille de route en cinq étapes proposée par Massad Boulos, conseiller de Donald Trump pour l’Afrique et le Moyen-Orient, jugeant qu’elle ne tient pas compte des intérêts supérieurs du pays”
The plan Boulos submitted on 19 February was described as five steps: «une trêve humanitaire immédiate», «une supervision onusienne de l’aide», a phased permanent ceasefire, a transition toward a civil government, and finally democratic elections.
RFI reported that Boulos called on 23 February for «un « cessez-le-feu immédiat » et une « trêve humanitaire, sans conditions préalables » » as the war in Sudan has lasted nearly three years.
RFI also quoted the Sudanese position that any proposal to end the war must take into account «l'intérêt supérieur du pays, la sécurité, l’unité, la souveraineté et l’intégrité régionale du Soudan», while Khartoum said it would not accept interference in internal affairs.
In the same context, RFI said the head of Sudan’s Sovereignty Council, general Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, considered that military operations against the Rapid Support Forces would continue «jusqu’à la fin de la rébellion ».
Burhan, Boulos and competing narratives
RFI said Massad Boulos, the special adviser to Donald Trump for Africa and the Middle East, urged a ceasefire and humanitarian truce on his X account on 23 February, while he insisted the United States was working with partners for a «paix juste et durable » and emphasized the army’s commitment to a transition toward a civil government.
RFI framed Khartoum’s response as a refusal of those proposals through a foreign ministry communiqué, stating that any proposal « ne respecte pas ces conditions n'obtiendra pas l'approbation du gouvernement » and therefore could not be implemented.
Dabanga reported that Boulos later downplayed claims that key issues had been fully accepted, writing on X that «Any official agreement would be formally announced.»
Dabanga also said the Sudanese Armed Forces’ reported conditional approval reshaped negotiations, with political analyst Qurashi Awad telling Radio Dabanga that the army’s agreement in principle came with reservations tied to the demand that the Rapid Support Forces withdraw from towns and cities.
In the same reporting, journalist Sibawayh Yousif described the army’s insistence on RSF withdrawal from towns before signing a ceasefire as «a sedative position», while he argued that information from discussions suggested practical coordination on separation of forces was already underway.
Ceasefire stakes and military pressure
Ayin network reported that US-backed talks focused on a 90-day humanitarian ceasefire followed by an inclusive political process aimed at ending more than three years of conflict, while diplomatic sources said the RSF had reservations about parts of the proposal.
Ayin said the Sudanese military objected to one of the five core provisions, insisting that the RSF must withdraw from all towns and cities it had controlled since 11 May 2023, and it described the demand as part of broader negotiating strategy rather than a final condition.
Ayin also reported that negotiations narrowed to technical arrangements for withdrawal of RSF forces from parts of North Kordofan State, particularly around the strategic city of El Obeid, with the United Nations expected to play a technical oversight role to monitor troop movements and verify compliance.
Atalayar reported that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio renewed the call for a humanitarian ceasefire and warned that some countries were supplying weapons to the parties, including through arms shipment operations, while he said the US immediate objective was to end hostilities before the New Year to allow humanitarian organizations to deliver aid.
Atalayar tied the diplomatic push to monitoring at Port Sudan International Airport, saying that between December 1 and 17 at least 16 cargo flights were detected, with the number rising from four in the first week to 12 between December 8 and 16, and it described this as an unusual uptick in cargo-plane arrivals from Istanbul.
