In brief
Amid ongoing conflict in Sudan, U.S. envoy Massad Boulos denies claims of bias in peace proposals as Sudan's army chief criticizes mediation efforts involving UAE. Despite accusations of support for the Rapid Support Forces, Boulos asserts an equitable approach to negotiations, while the civil war continues to displace millions.
President Donald Trump's senior Africa envoy, Massad Boulos, has rejected criticism that the US's latest proposal to end the Sudan civil war is 'biased'.
The US, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have been attempting to mediate between Sudan's army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which have been fighting for more than two years.
On Sunday, Sudan's army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan said the latest ceasefire proposal was unacceptable and future ones would also be one-sided as long as the UAE was involved in the negotiations.
The Gulf state denies it is offering support to the RSF, and on Tuesday Mr. Boulos said the bias Burhan spoke of was non-existent.
He was making reference to something that does not exist, that has never been presented by us. So, we have no idea what he is talking about, the AFP news agency reports Mr. Boulos as saying while at a media briefing with UAE presidential adviser Anwar Gargash.
In a video address on Sunday, Burhan said the latest peace plan proposal was 'the worst ever' because it sidelines the army and 'allows the Rapid Support Forces to remain'.
He accused Trump's adviser of attempting to impose conditions.
We are not advocates of war, nor do we reject peace, but no one can threaten us or impose conditions on us, he said.
UN experts say accusations of military support are credible, but the Gulf nation has denied involvement with the RSF.
On Monday, the RSF announced a unilateral three-month ceasefire 'in response to international efforts, chiefly that of His Excellency US President Donald Trump', to end the war.
However, the army said on Tuesday that the RSF had attacked the town of Babanusa, the army's last stronghold in West Kordofan state, despite the ceasefire.
Reports of atrocities in Sudan, including ethnic cleansing and sexual violence, have sparked international condemnation.
Last week, Trump announced his intention to intervene to help end the war, which has resulted in over 12 million people being displaced and is termed by the UN as the world's worst humanitarian crisis.
