Sudan Conflict: Warring Factions Ignore Truces, Driving Nation into Deeper Humanitarian Crisis

Despite the efforts of foreign powers such as the United States and Saudi Arabia, Sudan’s warring factions continue to disregard truces to end the two-month-long conflict. Both the army and the paramilitary Rapid Response Forces (RSF) are yet to show a willingness to take ceasefire talks in Jeddah seriously. Diplomats attribute this partly to rival regional powers aligning with different sides. 

The conflict is pushing the nation and its 49 million people, close to 2 million of whom have already fled their homes, deeper into a humanitarian crisis, with its own farms at risk of failing. The war threatens to tear the Sudanese state apart and convulse the region, even as various African groupings and foreign powers launch peace initiatives.

Egypt and the UAE hold specific leverage that could be helpful to bring more regional players to support talks, such as the Jeddah process sponsored by the United States and Saudi Arabia. The African Union-led forum aims to bind Arab and African states into the process, including Egypt and the UAE. 

However, it remains to be seen if either country is ready to exert real pressure. The RSF leader has the backing of the United Arab Emirates, which has ties to him, while Egypt sees the army as the best bet for a stable neighbour.

Key Highlights:

• Sudan’s warring factions are disregarding truces, and neither the army nor the paramilitary Rapid Response Forces (RSF) seem to be willing to take ceasefire talks in Jeddah seriously.
• The conflict is pushing the nation and its 49 million people, close to 2 million of whom have already fled their homes, deeper into a humanitarian crisis, with its own farms at risk of failing.
• Efforts to bring more regional players to support talks, such as Egypt and the UAE, hold specific leverage that could be helpful. However, it remains to be seen if either country is ready to exert real pressure.