Sudan’s Army Agrees to UN-Brokered Ceasefire in El Fasher to Enable Vital Aid Delivery

In a war-torn nation that has endured months of relentless conflict and humanitarian crisis, a flicker of hope has emerged. Sudan’s military has formally agreed to a weeklong ceasefire in El Fasher, a key city in the Darfur region, following a United Nations proposal aimed at facilitating urgent humanitarian aid delivery to civilians trapped in the crossfire.

The announcement marks a rare moment of consensus in a deeply fragmented and volatile conflict. As the world watches, hopes are cautiously rising that this temporary truce may offer some relief to the suffering population—and possibly pave the way for longer-term peace efforts.

Context: A Nation in Crisis

Sudan has been engulfed in a violent internal conflict since April 2023, when tensions between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) erupted into full-blown war. The power struggle between General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan (head of SAF) and General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti (leader of the RSF), has devastated the country.

Urban centers have been reduced to rubble. Hospitals and schools have shut down. Essential services have collapsed. Millions have fled their homes, and food insecurity has reached catastrophic levels. Darfur, already historically unstable, has become one of the worst-affected regions, with El Fasher at the heart of the crisis.

The Significance of El Fasher

El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, has become a strategic and symbolic battleground. As one of the last remaining government-controlled strongholds in the region, it has seen intense shelling, airstrikes, and urban combat in recent weeks. Civilians have found themselves trapped—unable to leave due to fear, lack of transport, or ongoing fighting.

The humanitarian situation in El Fasher has rapidly deteriorated. Medical supplies are running out. Food prices have skyrocketed. Clean water is scarce. Aid agencies have sounded the alarm repeatedly, warning that without immediate access to affected areas, a famine could soon follow.

Against this dire backdrop, the UN’s proposal for a ceasefire aimed to create a “humanitarian corridor” through which aid could be delivered and civilians could access essential services without risk of attack.

The Ceasefire: What It Entails

According to details shared by UN officials and Sudanese military sources, the ceasefire will last seven days and cover the immediate vicinity of El Fasher and surrounding rural areas. Key elements of the agreement include:

• Cessation of hostilities between SAF and RSF in the designated area

• Permission for aid convoys to enter the city and surrounding regions

• Access for humanitarian workers, including doctors, engineers, and logistics teams

• Medical evacuations of severely injured or ill civilians to nearby safe zones

• Coordination mechanisms through local mediators to ensure compliance

While limited in scope, this ceasefire is viewed as critical to saving lives and restoring basic dignity to thousands of displaced and stranded Sudanese civilians.

The Role of the United Nations

The UN has been a key actor in Sudan’s ongoing humanitarian and diplomatic efforts. Through its Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and UNHCR, the organization has been working to negotiate access, assess needs, and deliver aid wherever possible.

In the case of El Fasher, UN envoys engaged directly with Sudanese military leaders as well as local tribal elders and civil society groups to draft a temporary truce. Importantly, the ceasefire proposal also received backing from regional organizations like the African Union and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD).

UN officials have stressed that while the ceasefire is a short-term measure, it is a step in the right direction. Their aim is not only to deliver aid, but also to rebuild trust between warring factions and push for a broader, more sustainable peace process.

Cautious Optimism Among Aid Agencies

For international and local humanitarian organizations, the ceasefire is a long-awaited window of opportunity. Many groups had suspended operations in El Fasher due to security concerns. Now, with the truce in place, relief convoys are being readied, including trucks carrying:

• Emergency food rations (wheat, lentils, cooking oil)

• Water purification kits

• Medical supplies (antibiotics, surgical tools, IV fluids)

• Hygiene kits and temporary shelter materials

NGOs like the Sudanese Red Crescent, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), and Save the Children have welcomed the move. However, they are also warning that the success of the operation hinges on strict adherence to the terms of the ceasefire.

Many aid workers remain traumatized by previous instances where ceasefires were broken within hours, placing both civilians and humanitarian personnel at great risk.

The Response of the Rapid Support Forces

While the Sudanese military has officially agreed to the ceasefire, confirmation from the RSF leadership remains pending. Field reports suggest that RSF units around El Fasher have reduced their activity, but isolated clashes continue on the outskirts.

Analysts believe that RSF’s agreement may be conditional or tactical—a way to regroup and resupply. Still, any lull in violence is being cautiously welcomed by residents.

Local mediators and community leaders are now playing a crucial role in facilitating communication between opposing forces, ensuring that the ceasefire holds at least long enough for essential aid to reach the most vulnerable.

Voices from the Ground

For the people of El Fasher, the ceasefire has been met with a mix of hope and skepticism.

Fatima, a 38-year-old mother of three, says: “We’ve heard talks of peace before. But if this means my children can eat and sleep without shelling for a few days, then it’s something.”

Mohammed, a volunteer medic in a makeshift hospital, adds: “We need medicines, we need fuel for our generators, we need safe access. This ceasefire is not a luxury—it’s survival.”

There’s a sense that while seven days is not enough, it is a beginning—a fragile chance to show that even in war, humanity can prevail for a moment.

What Happens After the Seven Days?

The biggest question facing Sudan now is what happens when the ceasefire ends. Will it lead to a renewed round of talks? Can this truce be extended or replicated in other conflict zones like Khartoum, Nyala, or Geneina?

Peace experts believe the next steps will depend on the ceasefire’s success in El Fasher. If aid reaches civilians, if violence does not resume immediately, and if both parties see value in restraint, the truce could become a template for future localized ceasefires.

Regional and international stakeholders—including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, the US, and the EU—are closely monitoring developments, ready to intervene diplomatically if momentum builds.

 A Fragile Ray of Hope

In a nation battered by chaos, even a brief pause in violence can change lives. The Sudanese military’s acceptance of the UN's ceasefire proposal in El Fasher offers a moment—however fleeting—of compassion in a landscape dominated by cruelty.

Whether it turns into a path toward lasting peace remains to be seen. But for now, as trucks are loaded with aid and families prepare for their first quiet night in months, the ceasefire stands as a reminder that dialogue is still possible, even amidst despair.