The Sudanese Alliance for Rights (SAR) welcomes the statement delivered on 26 June 2026 by the Senior Adviser to the President of the United States on Arab and African Affairs before the United Nations Security Council, expressing deep concern over the continuing conflict in Sudan and acknowledging that the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) has not demonstrated sufficient commitment to ending the war. We particularly welcome the briefing’s recognition of the urgent need to prioritise the protection of civilians and pursue meaningful efforts towards peace.
We are especially concerned by the revelation that General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan reportedly rejected an updated proposal for a humanitarian ceasefire presented on Friday, marking the second reported refusal of efforts aimed at securing a humanitarian pause. At a time when millions of Sudanese civilians desperately need protection and humanitarian assistance, the continued rejection of ceasefire initiatives reflects a troubling lack of political will to alleviate the suffering of the Sudanese people and advance a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
Now entering its fourth year, Sudan’s conflict has become one of the world’s gravest humanitarian and human rights crises. More than 14 million people have been forced from their homes, including approximately 9 million internally displaced persons and over 4 million refugees who have sought safety in neighbouring countries. Tens of thousands of civilians have reportedly been killed, while countless others have suffered injuries, sexual violence, arbitrary detention, enforced disappearance, and the destruction of their homes and livelihoods. Millions are experiencing acute food insecurity, healthcare systems have collapsed across large parts of the country, millions of children have been deprived of education, and entire communities continue to live under the constant threat of violence.
The continued failure of Sudan’s de facto government, led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, to heed repeated regional and international calls for a humanitarian ceasefire has prolonged the suffering of civilians and undermined efforts to create conditions for dialogue and peace. The reported rejection of a humanitarian truce proposal for the second time reflects a persistent unwillingness to engage in meaningful efforts to end the conflict and protect the Sudanese people. Every missed opportunity to halt the fighting results in more lives lost, more families displaced, and greater obstacles to humanitarian access. We reiterate that all parties to the conflict must fulfil their obligations under international humanitarian law and international human rights law by protecting civilians, civilian infrastructure, humanitarian personnel, and ensuring safe, rapid, and unhindered humanitarian access.
The Sudanese people cannot continue to bear the cost of political intransigence. They have endured years of violence, displacement, economic collapse, and profound social trauma. Their calls for peace, dignity, justice, and a civilian future must not continue to go unanswered.
In light of the reported repeated rejection of humanitarian ceasefire proposals by the SAF-led de facto government, the Sudanese Alliance for Rights therefore calls on the United Nations Security Council to increase coordinated diplomatic pressure on the warring parties, particularly those obstructing ceasefire efforts, and to consider targeted measures against individuals responsible for undermining peace initiatives. We further call on the Council to strengthen accountability efforts, insist on full and unhindered humanitarian access, and make clear that continued refusal to engage in good-faith ceasefire negotiations will carry meaningful political consequences. We also urge the African Union, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), and all states with influence over the parties to the conflict to intensify diplomatic engagement and pursue every available avenue to secure an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. An immediate cessation of hostilities remains essential to protecting civilians and creating the conditions necessary for an inclusive, civilian-led political process that reflects the aspirations of the Sudanese people.
We further call on all Sudanese civil society actors to continue their advocacy efforts at the national, regional, and international levels, and to ensure that the voices and lived realities of the Sudanese people remain visible and central in all discussions on the conflict. Their sustained engagement is vital in shedding light on the humanitarian and human rights situation and in advancing pathways toward accountability and peace.
Sudan cannot afford another missed opportunity for peace. The international community must remain steadfast in its commitment to ending the conflict and ensuring that the rights, safety, and dignity of the Sudanese people remain at the centre of all efforts to achieve a lasting and just peace.
Sudanese Alliance for Rights,
27 June 2026
