UPDATE: The United States has announced that a comprehensive peace plan for Sudan will be revealed this week, aiming to end nearly three years of devastating civil war. Senior advisor to the US president on Arab and African Affairs, Massad Boulos, confirmed this urgent development during a fundraising event for humanitarian aid held on Tuesday.
The peace initiative, backed by the diplomatic coalition known as the Quad—comprising the US, UK, Norway, and Egypt—is designed to address the ongoing conflict between the Sudanese military and the breakaway paramilitary group, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Boulos stated, “We’ve been working on this comprehensive peace plan for at least three months now that should be acceptable to both sides.”
This announcement comes as Sudan faces a humanitarian catastrophe, with over 21 million people reported to be suffering from acute food and water shortages. The plan’s key elements focus on five pillars: alleviating the humanitarian crisis, protecting civilians, transitioning to a permanent ceasefire, establishing a political process towards a civilian-led government, and initiating reconstruction efforts.
While Boulos highlighted “promising remarks” from Sudan’s military chief, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, he refrained from naming specific obstacles to the plan’s implementation, indicating that it is “quite comprehensive.” Once approved by the warring factions, the plan will be presented to the United Nations Security Council for an international mandate.
The urgency of this situation is underscored by the significant aid commitments made during the fundraiser. The UAE pledged a $500 million aid package, while the US announced an additional $200 million contribution, building on its previous $500 million support. Boulos indicated that total pledges could reach $1.5 billion.
The humanitarian crisis in Sudan has escalated dramatically since April 2023, with over 10 million people internally displaced and another four million having fled to neighboring countries. The conflict has claimed more than 150,000 lives, making it one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, according to US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs.
Boulos emphasized the need for clarity and cooperation among international stakeholders, stating that the peace plan aims to complement existing UN efforts. “The Board of Peace is a smaller group that is quite enthusiastic,” he said, referencing a coalition that includes key regional players.
As the situation develops, all eyes will be on the anticipated unveiling of the peace plan later this week, with the hope that it will finally bring relief to millions of suffering civilians in Sudan. The world is watching closely, and the humanitarian community is eager for “visible progress” by the first day of Ramadan, set to begin around February 18, 2024.
Stay tuned for further updates as this crucial peace initiative unfolds.
