UAE acknowledges that foreign support for Sudan’s war fueled the conflict

The Sudan Quartet countries—Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States—issued a joint statement calling for an initial three-month Humanitarian truce to enable rapid access for humanitarian aid throughout Sudan, leading immediately to a permanent ceasefire.

In their statement, they stated that a comprehensive and transparent transition process must be launched and concluded within nine months to meet the aspirations of the Sudanese people for an independent, civilian-led government with broad legitimacy and accountability. They noted that this is vital for Sudan’s long-term stability and the preservation of state institutions.

They added that they had held extensive consultations, at the invitation of the United States, on the conflict in Sudan, indicating that the ministers committed to a common set of principles for ending the conflict in Sudan. Foremost among these is that Sudan’s sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity are essential to achieving peace and stability.

Among the principles under discussion is that there is no viable military solution to the conflict, and that the current situation creates unacceptable suffering and risks threatening peace and security. All parties to the conflict must facilitate rapid, safe, and unhindered humanitarian access throughout Sudan by all necessary means, protect civilians in accordance with international humanitarian law and their obligations under the Jeddah Declaration, and refrain from indiscriminate air and ground attacks on civilian infrastructure.

They agreed that the future of governance in Sudan is up to the Sudanese people to decide through an inclusive and transparent transition process, not under the control of any warring party. They stated that Sudan’s future cannot be dictated by what they called violent extremist groups that are part of, or clearly affiliated with, the Muslim Brotherhood, and whose destabilizing influence has fueled violence and instability throughout the region, according to the statement.

The ministers agreed to closely monitor the implementation of these timetables and affirmed their readiness to exercise their good offices and make all necessary efforts to ensure full implementation by the parties, including reconvening to discuss further steps.

Among the points they agreed upon, along with the United Arab Emirates, was their affirmation that external military support to the parties to the conflict in Sudan contributes to fueling and prolonging the conflict and destabilizing the region. Therefore, halting external military support is essential to ending the conflict.

They pledged to continue their engagement in supporting a peaceful solution, including exerting all efforts to support a negotiated settlement to the conflict with the effective participation of the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces; pressuring all parties to the conflict to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure and ensure humanitarian access to those in need;

They pledged to strengthen the conditions necessary to ensure the security of the Red Sea region more broadly; to confront transnational security threats from terrorist and extremist organizations and the conditions that allow them to spread; and to deny space to destabilizing regional and local actors who seek to exploit the ongoing conflict in Sudan.

The ministers affirmed their commitment to restoring peace and ending the suffering of the Sudanese people, and their readiness to cooperate with African and Arab countries and institutions, the United Nations, and international partners to achieve these goals.

The ministers discussed urgent humanitarian needs and early recovery requirements, and emphasized the need to continue mobilizing the international community to achieve this goal and build on recent humanitarian meetings.

The ministers affirmed their determination to continue discussions, consultations, and meetings, at the ministerial and sub-ministerial levels, to enhance their coordinated efforts in support of ending the conflict in Sudan, including supporting the establishment and implementation of a comprehensive and transparent transitional process.

In this regard, the ministers expressed their support for the efforts of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States, through the Jeddah Process, to achieve a permanent ceasefire in Sudan, as well as for Egypt’s efforts regarding the Sudanese Civilian and Political Forces Forum, the first session of which was held in Cairo in July 2024.

The ministers agreed to continue their consultations in this regard during the Quadripartite Ministerial Meeting in September 2025.