Diplomatic sources revealed the full content of the updated paper submitted by the United States of America to establish peace in Sudan, along with the details of the official written government response, which included strict security and political requirements, and a detailed timetable for the assembly of rebel forces.
The US plan, drafted by the US president's adviser for African and Arab affairs Massad Boulos, aims to declare a comprehensive and immediate humanitarian truce nationwide for 90 days, with the aim of facilitating the delivery of relief aid, and protecting civilians, facilities and public services, and to use this period to negotiate a permanent ceasefire and start a political transition led by a civilian authority leading to elections.
Details of the initiative and security arrangements
The U.S. initiative proposes the establishment of an international United Nations mechanism, with the direct participation of the African Union and the Arab League, to support limited military withdrawals to create conditions for the return of displaced persons, to deploy international observers to verify compliance with the protection of civilians and the ceasefire, while emphasizing respect for Sudan's sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity, ending all forms of external military support, and preventing illicit flows of foreign arms and mercenaries.
In its security and political aspects, the American paper calls for the negotiation of final security arrangements, including prioritizing the redeployment of forces in North Darfur and North Kordofan states, implementing disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programs, and consolidating forces into specific camps, with the exception of a unified national army accountable to an independent and elected civilian government, and ensuring that state institutions and national dialogue are free of violent extremist groups, militias, and individuals who have committed atrocities.
Sudanese Response: Stages of the Withdrawal Plan
In contrast, the official Sudanese government response came to confirm the approval of most of the general political and humanitarian items, but categorically objected to the issue of the "limited withdrawal", stressing that any truce on the ground must be linked to a decisive timetable that stipulates the full withdrawal of the Rapid Support Forces from all cities, residential areas, and facilities they have controlled since May 11, 2023, which is the date set for the signing of the "Jeddah Declaration" by the two parties under the auspices of the United States and Saudi Arabia.
The Sudanese government's response detailed an integrated security plan for the militia's withdrawal and its consolidation through three consecutive time phases, which correspond to the duration of the proposed truce:
Phase I (30 days): Includes the full withdrawal of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) from the Blue Nile region, North Kordofan states, and North, Central and West Darfur.
Phase II (30 days): It begins immediately after the completion of the first period, and includes the withdrawal of these forces from the cities of West Kordofan and South Darfur states.
Phase III (30 days): Begins following the implementation of the second phase, and includes the withdrawal from the states of East and South Kordofan, with the location of the final mass assembly of these forces in the Kauda area (SPLM-N stronghold led by Abdulaziz al-Helu).
The head of the Transitional Sovereignty Council, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, stressed that the military will move forward with field operations until the complete elimination of the insurgency and the cleansing of the entire country's territory.
In a speech in the city of Omdurman, General Al-Burhan said: "Our message to the rebels at home and abroad is that Sudan is capable of winning the battle of dignity with the determination of its sons, and we will never fail the people, and we will not hand over this state except in accordance with a comprehensive national consensus among all Sudanese."
Sudanese army controls Deem Saad and Yara areas
On the ground, the Sudanese army has extended its full control over the strategic areas of Dim Saad and Yara in the southeastern state of Blue Nile, after thwarting a large-scale attack launched by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and its allied Popular Movement.
Military sources confirmed that the Sudanese Armed Forces successfully repelled the attack, and the attacking forces suffered heavy losses in lives and equipment, in addition to confiscating large quantities of weapons, individual and specific ammunition, and combat vehicles belonging to the rebel militia.
The "Dim Saad" area, located in the locality of Qaisan, is of great military importance, as it represents the direct geographical link of the Blue Nile State to the Ethiopian border, and it is also the first geographical point through which the Blue Nile passes when it enters Sudanese territory, while the "Yara" area and the city of "Kurmak" are major crossings and vital gateways for logistical movements towards neighboring countries.
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