Sudan’s military leader General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan has opened communication with the United Arab Emirates over possible ceasefire efforts, according to Middle East Eye, though officials involved in the discussions said a truce is not expected soon. The talks come as Sudan’s civil war continues into its third year and international mediation efforts remain stalled.
Middle East Eye reported that contacts between Burhan and Emirati officials resumed after months of tensions linked to accusations that Abu Dhabi supported the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The UAE has repeatedly denied providing military support to the RSF.
The conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the RSF began in April 2023 after a power struggle between General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, commonly known as Hemedti. According to the United Nations, the war has displaced more than 12 million people and created one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises.
Middle East Eye said Sudanese and regional sources confirmed that Burhan had agreed to discuss possible frameworks for ending the war with Emirati officials. The report said the discussions were encouraged by regional actors concerned that the conflict is destabilising the wider Red Sea region.
A Sudanese political source told Middle East Eye that “channels are now open again between Burhan and the UAE after months of complete hostility.” The source added that discussions were focused on “testing possibilities” for future negotiations rather than securing an immediate ceasefire.
Another regional official familiar with the talks told the outlet that “a breakthrough is still distant,” adding that neither side has changed its core military position on the battlefield.
Relations between Sudan and the UAE deteriorated sharply during the war. Sudanese authorities accused Abu Dhabi of supplying weapons to the RSF through neighbouring countries, allegations supported by findings from UN experts and cited by Reuters in previous reporting. The UAE rejected the accusations and said it supports diplomatic efforts to end the conflict.
Reuters reported in December 2024 that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan offered to mediate between Sudan and the UAE after Burhan accused Abu Dhabi of backing the RSF.
The new contacts appear to reflect broader international pressure for negotiations. According to Reuters, US officials have also pushed for humanitarian ceasefires and renewed diplomacy involving Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the UAE.
The Sudanese army has publicly maintained that any settlement must preserve the authority of the national military and eventually dismantle the RSF. Analysts cited by the Foundation for Defense of Democracies said Burhan remains unwilling to accept any agreement that reduces the army’s political influence after the war.
“The army leadership still believes it can negotiate from a position of strength,” analyst Hussain Abdul-Hussain wrote in an October analysis published by the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. He said Burhan’s conditions for peace remained “rigid” despite growing diplomatic pressure.
The UAE has continued to call for ceasefire efforts despite the dispute. Emirati Minister of State for International Cooperation Reem bint Ebrahim Al Hashimy said in November that “the Sudanese people bear the heaviest cost” of the continuing war and urged Sudanese leaders to return to negotiations, according to Khaleej Times.
Fighting has continued across several regions of Sudan, including Darfur and parts of central Sudan. Humanitarian agencies have warned that famine risks are rising in areas cut off from aid deliveries. The World Food Programme said millions of civilians remain dependent on emergency assistance.
Regional governments are increasingly concerned that the war could expand instability across the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea corridor. Egypt has backed Sudan’s army diplomatically, while Gulf states have attempted separate mediation efforts over the past two years.
Background:
Sudan’s civil war began on April 15, 2023 after tensions between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF escalated into open fighting in Khartoum. The two factions had previously shared power after the 2021 military coup that removed Sudan’s transitional civilian leadership. Mediation attempts led by Saudi Arabia, the United States and African regional organisations have repeatedly failed to secure a lasting ceasefire. The United Nations says the conflict has displaced millions internally and across neighbouring countries. Multiple investigations by UN experts and international organisations have examined allegations of war crimes committed during the fighting.
What happens next:
Officials involved in the latest contacts told Middle East Eye that discussions between Sudanese and Emirati representatives are expected to continue through regional intermediaries. No date has been announced for formal peace negotiations. International mediators, including the United States and Saudi Arabia, are expected to maintain pressure on both sides to allow humanitarian access and reduce hostilities. Sudan’s army and the RSF continue military operations in several frontline areas, according to local reports and humanitarian agencies.
