Sudan’s political scene has been gripped by widespread controversy following Prime Minister Kamil Idris’s address to the UN Security Council, with sharp criticism emerging from journalists, political observers, and the wider public.
Sudanese journalist Othman Mirghani said Idris’s speech offered nothing new, describing it as a waste of time. His comments came in response to the peace initiative presented by Idris, which he argued simply recycled long standing proposals that have repeatedly failed.
During the Security Council session, Idris outlined an initiative calling for a ceasefire, the withdrawal of the Rapid Support Forces from areas under their control, the return of displaced people, the disarmament of the RSF, and the reintegration and rehabilitation of former fighters through employment programmes. He also proposed launching an internal Sudanese dialogue aimed at democratic transition and what he described as comprehensive, non selective justice.
Observers noted that these points closely mirror earlier initiatives put forward by SAF commander Abdel Fattah al Burhan and other government officials. Those proposals were widely rejected for ignoring the balance of power on the ground, particularly given the RSF’s control over large parts of the country.
Analysts said the initiative appears to be an attempt to repackage ideas that have already been dismissed internationally, offering no practical pathway to ending the war.
On social media, Sudanese users circulated extensive criticism and ridicule of the proposal. Many argued that it repeats demands that are impossible to implement, especially calls for a full RSF withdrawal and disarmament under current battlefield conditions.
Some commentators described the idea of a complete RSF pullout as unrealistic, while others said the initiative differs little from SAF statements issued since the start of the war. Users stressed that the proposal fails to reflect military realities and lacks any substantive elements capable of altering the course of the conflict.
These developments come as the US has set a ten day deadline to reach a humanitarian truce in Sudan ahead of the new year. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the aim is to halt the fighting before the year begins, citing intensive coordination with Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Egypt, alongside the UK, to push the parties towards an agreement that would allow expanded humanitarian access.
Rubio said both sides had violated previous commitments and expressed concern over reports of attacks on aid convoys, warning that the situation in Sudan remains extremely dangerous.
A well informed Sudanese source said Burhan received an urgent message during his recent visit to Riyadh urging him to commit to the Quartet’s roadmap. Burhan reportedly requested a week to consult with allies before responding. The source said the proposal aligns with a plan backed by the US, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Egypt, and that Rubio’s remarks should be understood in this context.
The source added that Burhan’s visit coincided with a regional tour by senior US adviser for Arab and African affairs Massad Boulos, which included Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Egypt.
US attention to the war intensified following direct Saudi engagement, with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reportedly urging President Donald Trump to intervene to stop the fighting. According to media, Burhan told Saudi officials he was prepared to work with Riyadh, President Trump, and his envoy to bring the war to an end.
The same source said Burhan’s comments mark a shift from the Sudanese government’s earlier rejection of a three month ceasefire proposal put forward by the Quartet, which has since reiterated its commitment to pursuing a negotiated political settlement.
