Washington: The United States, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt have jointly unveiled a roadmap aimed at halting Sudan’s devastating civil war and steering the country towards a civilian-led government.

The plan proposes an initial three-month humanitarian truce to allow critical aid deliveries and provide relief for millions of civilians caught in the conflict. This would be followed by a permanent ceasefire and a nine-month transitional process designed to establish a civilian administration with broad legitimacy and accountability.

The proposal explicitly rules out any role for the Muslim Brotherhood or allied Islamist groups in Sudan’s future political structure.

The roadmap comes amid growing concern over the deteriorating situation in Sudan, where the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have been locked in a brutal power struggle. The RSF controls much of Darfur, where it has established a parallel administration, while the army maintains its stronghold in the capital and key northern regions.

Al-Fashir, the capital of North Darfur, remains under siege, worsening the humanitarian crisis.

The United States has also increased pressure through sanctions, targeting Finance Minister Jibril Ibrahim and the Islamist Baraa Ibn-Malik Brigade, citing their role in prolonging the war and ties to regional Islamist networks.

Meanwhile, tensions have risen over Sudan’s accusations that the UAE has been recruiting foreign mercenaries to fight alongside the RSF. The UAE has denied the allegations, but reports of Colombian fighters arriving through Libya and Somalia have heightened international concerns.

The United Nations Security Council has already rejected the RSF’s attempt to form a so-called “Government of Peace and Unity” in Darfur, warning that it undermines Sudan’s territorial integrity and risks deepening the conflict.

While the proposed roadmap reflects rare alignment among regional and global powers, its success will depend on whether Sudan’s warring parties agree to halt fighting and engage in a transition. With famine, displacement, and mass civilian suffering worsening by the day, the coming weeks will be critical in determining whether the plan can move from paper to reality.