The United States and the United Arab Emirates have held talks on securing a humanitarian truce in Sudan as the country’s war deepens, the U.S. State Department said on Friday.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan and “underscored the urgent need to halt hostilities and expand humanitarian access,” according to the department’s readout.
The discussion comes as Washington seeks to revive a U.S.-UAE-Saudi-Egypt initiative known as the “Quad,” which last week proposed a temporary truce to allow food and medical supplies into areas cut off by fighting between General al-Burhan’s army (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
The RSF announced on Nov. 6 that it had agreed to the Quad’s proposal. The SAF has rejected any ceasefire unless the RSF withdraws from civilian areas and disarms, conditions the Sudanese group says are impossible amid ongoing attacks.
Humanitarian agencies warn Sudan is facing one of the world’s fastest-deteriorating crises, with millions displaced and severe food shortages reported across Darfur, Kordofan and Khartoum state.
The U.S. statement said Rubio and the UAE minister also discussed broader regional issues, including efforts to implement a Gaza ceasefire plan, and reaffirmed what Washington described as a “strategic partnership.”
Western diplomats say the Biden administration has pressed Gulf states to use their influence to stop the war, while U.S. lawmakers have questioned the UAE’s role, including allegations it armed the RSF – claims Abu Dhabi denies.
No timeline was given for when a truce could be implemented, and diplomats involved in the process say Sudan’s warring sides remain far apart despite growing international pressure.
