Assistant Commander-in-Chief of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), Yasser Al-Atta, has set out conditions to engage in peace talks for ending the war in Sudan.
Al-Atta also vowed to hold the rival Rapid Support forces (RSF) and their supporters accountable, renewing accusations that the UAE backs the RSF with weapons and mercenaries.
Conditions for Peace
Delivering a speech in Al-Obeid, North Kordofan, Al-Atta stressed that the surrender and withdrawal of the RSF is a key demand for peace in Sudan, reported Sudan Tribune.
These demands include the immediate withdrawal of RSF forces from all major urban centers, limiting their presence strictly to designated encampments in South and East Darfur.
The paramilitary group must also give up its weapons and military equipment to the SAF. Moreover, the demands include the immediate and total re-establishment of full national sovereignty over all essential infrastructure, including all international border crossings and airports nationwide.
Al-Atta emphasized that these conditions represent the definitive “state’s decision,” reiterating that the military establishment is unified in its determination to end the conflict and rejects any negotiation not based on the RSF’s withdrawal.
Areas of Control
According to the high-ranking military official, the SAF currently retains control of its main positions in Al-Obeid in North Kordofan, and a key base in Babanusa in West Kordofan. He added that the Sudanese army is engaging in intense battles to recapture the western states.
On the other hand, the RSF controls all of the five Darfur states and parts of Kordofan. The Kordofan region, which includes North, South, East and West Kordofan, serves as a strategic corridor that links Khartoum and central Sudan to Darfur.
The SAF, in cooperation with joint forces, security, police, and popular resistance, has finalized preparations for military operations aimed at recapturing RSF-held areas and securing the international border, Al-Atta noted.
Accountability for Complicit Parties
Al-Atta pledged to legally pursue and hold accountable all traitors and RSF collaborators, including those who provided political, media, or operational support, stressing that the RSF “has no place in Sudan, neither currently nor in the future.”
Furthermore, he delivered a sharp rebuke against the UAE, claiming it is providing military support to the paramilitary forces. He said that Abu Dhabi is bringing in mercenaries from Colombia, Ukraine, Libya, Chad, Central African Republic, South Sudan, Niger, and Somalia to fight alongside the RSF.
The UAE has faced accusations from the SAF, UN experts and human rights groups of providing military support to the RSF. Earlier in November, US State Secretary Marco Rubio called for international action to cut off weapons supplies to the RSF, slamming countries involved in Sudan’s conflict, although he stopped short of publicly accusing the UAE.
“We know who the parties are that are involved. These things – that’s why they’re part of the Quad along with other countries involved,” Rubio said, adding that “this needs to stop.”
However, the UAE has consistently rejected claims of supporting the RSF, denying any involvement in the conflict.
Commitment to Jeddah Declaration
On Wednesday, the Sudanese Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Ambassador Mohamed Mohiuddin Salem, underscored Sudan’s commitment to implementing the terms of the Jeddah Declaration, supported by Saudi Arabia and the US.
Speaking at a press conference in Port Sudan, Salem reaffirmed Sudan’s readiness to engage in a “serious and responsible” negotiating path toward establishing a comprehensive peace and ending the conflict.
He revealed that Sudan has submitted a Declaration of Principles for Humanitarian Purposes to the UN, affirming the country’s commitment to International Humanitarian Law, and emphasizing a responsible approach toward a sustainable, Sudanese-led solution that addresses essential humanitarian needs and the aspirations of its people.
The declaration forcefully reaffirms Sudan’s national sovereignty over its airspace and territory, insisting on unhindered humanitarian access, civilian protection, and adherence to the Jeddah Declaration.
Furthermore, it demands the withdrawal of all mercenaries and foreign fighters, the immediate release of abductees, and the return of prisoners of war. The document strongly advocates for dialogue as the exclusive means of resolving the conflict, provided this process remains strictly Sudanese-Sudanese and free from external influence or dictates.
Importantly, Salem reiterated the government’s prerequisite for any ceasefire, which is the complete implementation of the Jeddah Agreement. He also added that a follow-up ‘Roadmap’ document has been submitted to the UN.
Rejecting Quad Proposal
The Chairman of Sudan’s Sovereign Council and Commander-in-Chief of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, rejected on Sunday a ceasefire proposal backed by the Quad group, which involves the US, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the UAE.
He labeled the proposal as the “worst yet” for eliminating the SAF while keeping the RSF in their positions, denouncing the presence of the UAE in the Quad.
Furthermore, Al-Burhan reiterated his readiness to engage in peace talks with the US and Saudi Arabia, but said that “RSF militia and its mercenaries must be dismantled” and excluded from any future role, he wrote in an op-ed published in The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) on Wednesday.
Appreciation for Saudi Arabia
During a visit to Washington, the Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Mohammed bin Salman, asked US President Donald Trump to intervene to bring the conflict to an end. “And we’re going to start working on Sudan,” Trump vowed.
In the light of this, Sudan’s Security and Defense Council expressed appreciation to Saudi Arabia, praising Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Trump for showing interest in ending the war and bringing peace to Sudan.
Moreover, the Council reiterated its commitment to the paper submitted by Sudan’s government to the UN.
