Sudan Peace Talks Advance with Quartet Meeting in Washington

Washington, D.C., hosted a meeting of the Quartet countries—the United States, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates—to advance peace in Sudan and secure a humanitarian truce. According to Massad Boulos, the U.S. president’s adviser for Africa and the Middle East, the gathering aimed to strengthen collective efforts toward stability in Sudan, including obtaining an urgent humanitarian cease‑fire, achieving a permanent cease‑fire, halting external support to the warring parties, and advancing the transition to civilian rule.

The primary goal of the talks was to establish a three‑month cease‑fire that would allow humanitarian aid to reach millions of Sudanese civilians displaced by the conflict and facing famine. This initiative comes as violence escalates in Darfur, where the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) announced the capture of the Sixth Infantry Division headquarters—a key Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) base in western Sudan—and claimed full control of El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur.

During the meeting, Quartet members reaffirmed their commitment to the September 12 Ministerial Statement and agreed to create a Joint Operational Committee to improve coordination on urgent priorities. The U.S. president’s adviser emphasized the determination to end the suffering of the Sudanese people.

Sudanese Foreign Minister Mohieddin Salem Ahmed arrived in Washington with a delegation of military personnel to develop relations between Khartoum and the United States and to continue dialogue on issues of common interest. Indirect preliminary talks between the SAF and the RSF began in Washington last week, marking a significant step toward formal cease‑fire negotiations and efforts to stabilize the country after more than a year and a half of war.

A U.S. State Department official confirmed that the two‑day meetings in Washington are part of ongoing preparations for official peace talks that will outline both military and political frameworks for Sudan’s post‑war transition. The current discussions are indirect; each delegation meets separately with U.S. officials under the supervision of the U.S. Deputy Secretary of State. This format is intended to bridge the gap between the parties before they engage in direct negotiations.

The renewed diplomatic momentum follows the Quartet’s meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations’ 80th General Assembly session in New York on September 24, representing an advanced step in the negotiation process and building on earlier high‑level efforts to bring peace to Sudan.