• Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF) agreed to a humanitarian ceasefire proposed by the U.S. and Arab nations.
• The agreement follows the RSF's recent takeover of El-Fasher, raising humanitarian concerns.
• The Sudanese army's response remains unclear, as they have previously rejected truce proposals without RSF disarmament.
• Over 70,000 people have fled El-Fasher due to violence, compounding the humanitarian crisis.
• The conflict has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and millions displaced since its onset in April 2023.

The Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group engaged in a protracted conflict with the Sudanese army, announced on November 6 that they have agreed to a humanitarian ceasefire proposed by a U.S.-led coalition, known as the Quad, comprising Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the UAE. This agreement is aimed at addressing the “catastrophic humanitarian consequences of the war” and improving the protection of civilians impacted by ongoing violence, particularly in the famine-stricken city of El-Fasher, which the RSF captured less than two weeks prior, according to Reuters, BBC, and Los Angeles Times.

While the RSF expressed its eagerness to implement the ceasefire and engage in discussions to end hostilities, the Sudanese army has yet to formally respond. Reports indicate that the army’s leadership is simultaneously preparing for continued hostilities unless the RSF withdraws from civilian areas and surrenders weapons. They perceive any ceasefire as contingent upon such conditions being met, as stated by officials in multiple sources, including Africanews and Al Jazeera.

The humanitarian situation in Sudan has deteriorated significantly since the conflict began in April 2023, with aid organizations warning that the nation now faces one of the world's largest humanitarian crises. Reports from The World Food Program indicate that over 24 million people are facing acute food insecurity, and more than 14 million have been displaced. The siege of El-Fasher highlighted this emergency, as many of the residents resorted to eating animal feed just to survive, evidencing the dire need for humanitarian assistance, according to Los Angeles Times and South China Morning Post.

As the ceasefire talks progress, allegations of atrocities committed by the RSF during and after their seizure of El-Fasher have led to international outcry. Witnesses have described harrowing conditions, including mass killings and summary executions. Human rights organizations are urging immediate international intervention to protect civilians and prevent further escalation of violence, echoing similar sentiments reported by Africanews, Le Monde, and South China Morning Post.