After more than two years of brutal fighting in Sudan, the international community is stepping up efforts to halt the bloodshed and address the growing humanitarian crisis.
Although the UAE has previously faced accusations of complicity in parts of the conflict, it has joined Washington, Riyadh, and Cairo in calling for a truce to ease civilian suffering and create space for negotiations toward a permanent ceasefire.
Humanitarian Toll of the Conflict
In North Kordofan, over 450 civilians, including at least 35 children, were killed around the town of Bara in July.
The RSF was blamed for at least 60 deaths, though civil groups estimate up to 300. That same week, a military airstrike killed 11 members of a single family in Bara, while air raids in West Kordofan left at least 23 civilians dead and more than two dozen injured.
Fighting has forced hundreds from Kordofan into Tawila, North Darfur, a region already burdened by previous displacements from Zamzam Camp and Al-Fashir. Since April, Tawila has received 379,000 displaced persons.
Many are walking long distances with little food or water, sleeping outdoors. Measles has begun to spread in Zalingi, West Darfur, while cholera, flooding, and food insecurity compound the crisis.
In May alone, over 46,000 people were displaced from West Kordofan, and in North Darfur, shelling killed five children in El-Fashir. Flooding in Dar As Salam displaced 400 more between July 14–15.
Recent months have seen continued high casualties. According to NGO ACLED, October 2025 alone saw approximately 1,545 civilian deaths, with over 3,000 total fatalities, underscoring the ongoing severity of the conflict.
Ceasefire Talks Resume
Both the RSF and Sudanese army have agreed to various ceasefires over the two-and-a-half-year war, though none have held.
According to Reuters, the latest announcement comes shortly after the RSF seized control of al-Fashir, the famine-stricken capital of North Darfur.
“The Rapid Support Forces looks forward to implementing the agreement and immediately commencing discussions on arrangements for a cessation of hostilities and the fundamental principles guiding the political process in Sudan,” the RSF said in its statement.
Army Response and International Mediation
The agreement remains in limbo, as the Sudanese army has yet to respond. The army-led Security and Defense Council convened to review the proposal but offered no definitive decision, with reports suggesting that influential figures within the military oppose the truce.
A U.S. State Department spokesperson said Washington continues to engage both sides to support a humanitarian ceasefire, urging prompt action to curb the violence and ease civilian suffering.
Path to Relief for Civilians
Humanitarian groups continue to care for displaced and wounded Sudanese, including at clinics run by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) in Tawila.
Witnesses report RSF abuses, including civilian killings and abductions, though leaders have urged fighters to protect civilians and promised prosecution for violations.
