Khartoum: The United States, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Egypt have jointly called for a three-month humanitarian truce in Sudan, following which they aim for a permanent ceasefire and a nine-month transition towards a civilian government.

According to Nam News Network, the joint statement issued by the US State Department emphasized that the transition should align with the aspirations of the Sudanese people, facilitating the establishment of an independent, civilian-led government characterized by broad-based legitimacy and accountability. The ongoing conflict, which began in April 2023, pits Sudan's army—holding sway over most state institutions—against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

Egypt, a critical ally of Sudan's regular army, has consistently advocated for the protection of state institutions. Conversely, the UAE has faced accusations, including from UN reports, of supplying arms to the RSF—allegations it has denied. Diplomatic sources revealed that Cairo initially objected to language that barred both the army and the RSF from participating in the transition, leading to a compromise in the final statement. This compromise avoids explicitly mentioning either side while insisting the Sudanese people decide the nation's next government. The statement also excludes violent extremist groups, particularly those affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood, from the transition process.

In a related move, the United States has imposed sanctions on Sudan's army-aligned finance minister, Gebreil Ibrahim, a senior Islamist figure, and the Baraa Ibn-Malik Brigade, an Islamist militia fighting alongside the army. Islamists, who dominated Sudanese politics for three decades under ousted president Omar al-Bashir, have seen a resurgence during the war, aligning with the army. The US Treasury Department stated that these sanctions aim to limit Islamist influence within Sudan and curb Iran's regional activities, which have contributed to regional destabilization and civilian suffering.

Despite concerted international efforts to broker peace, the willingness of the warring factions to engage remains uncertain. In June, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for a one-week ceasefire in North Darfur's besieged capital of El-Fasher. While the army agreed to the cessation, the RSF rejected it. Both factions have repeatedly pledged to continue their fight until achieving outright military victory. Currently, the army controls Sudan's east, north, and center, whereas the RSF dominates parts of the south and nearly the entire western Darfur region, where it recently declared a parallel government, raising fears of the country's fragmentation.