Neither side in Sudan’s ongoing conflict has formally agreed to a new U.S.-backed ceasefire plan, according to Massad Boulos, the senior U.S. advisor for Arab and African affairs. Speaking at a press conference in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, Boulos said the United States had submitted a strong proposal aimed at pausing the fighting, but both factions have held back from officially endorsing it.

Sudanese Army Requests “Impossible” Preconditions

Boulos noted that, while neither group objected to the main terms of the proposal, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) responded with “preconditions” that he said were unrealistic and could not be met under current circumstances.

The conflict between the SAF, led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) began in April 2023 after a leadership struggle escalated into nationwide fighting. The war has led to famine, widespread displacement, and severe humanitarian challenges.

Previous Peace Efforts Have Stalled

International attempts to broker peace—including initiatives led by the United States, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates—have repeatedly fallen short. A proposal drafted in September was incorporated into the latest American plan, Boulos said.

Burhan strongly criticized the updated U.S. proposal over the weekend, calling it the worst he had seen and claiming it weakened the army’s position while legitimizing the RSF. According to Boulos, those criticisms were based on misinformation.

UAE Rejects Claims of Bias

Standing alongside Boulos, UAE presidential advisor Anwar Gargash said accusations that the UAE was supplying weapons to the RSF were false and part of “misinformation campaigns.” He stressed that the UAE remains committed to pursuing peace in Sudan and rejected claims that Islamist political groups should shape Sudan’s future, a comment understood to reference concerns about the Muslim Brotherhood.

Boulos added that if the U.S. proceeds with designating the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization, regional affiliates could also be reviewed.

RSF Declares a Ceasefire, Army Calls It a Political Tactic

On Monday, RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo announced that his forces would enter an immediate unilateral ceasefire. The move followed intense global pressure after recent attacks in areas controlled by the RSF. As of Tuesday, it remained unclear whether the ceasefire was being fully observed.

The U.S. welcomed the announcement but urged all countries to end financial or military assistance to any of the fighting parties.

Sudanese government spokesperson Khalid Aleisir, representing the army-led administration, dismissed the RSF’s ceasefire declaration as a political maneuver intended to divert attention from alleged abuses committed by its fighters. The RSF has denied wrongdoing and said any member found responsible for violations would face accountability.

The United States says it hopes both sides will eventually accept the ceasefire plan so that humanitarian access and peace talks can move forward.