ABU DHABI – International mediators on Tuesday, November 26, 2025, urged Sudan’s warring generals to accept a new, internationally backed ceasefire proposal, as the conflict triggers what the United Nations has branded the world's largest humanitarian and displacement crisis. The diplomatic initiative, presented by a quartet of nations known as the Quad, comes amid stark divisions between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), whose war has raged since April 2023.

The proposal, backed by the United States, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Egypt, calls for a three-month humanitarian truce followed by a nine-month political process. However, the plan has met a fractured reception. The RSF, led by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, announced on Monday, November 25, that it had accepted the truce unilaterally to allow for aid deliveries. In contrast, SAF commander General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan vehemently rejected the proposal on Sunday, November 24, calling it “the worst yet” and claiming it would “eliminate the existence of the Army.” Al-Burhan also accused the UAE and other mediators of bias, complicating the path to a negotiated settlement.

The diplomatic deadlock persists even as the fighting on the ground continues unabated. On Tuesday, the SAF claimed it had repelled an RSF attack in West Kordofan state, just a day after the RSF’s ceasefire declaration. Meanwhile, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported on Wednesday, November 26, that escalating conflict in the Kordofan region has driven large-scale displacement, with nearly 40,000 people uprooted in North Kordofan between late October and mid-November alone.

So What for Kenya and East Africa?

The intensifying conflict carries severe implications for regional stability, with Kenya and its neighbours bearing a significant burden. The war has created the world's most severe displacement crisis, with the UN reporting that over 12 million people have been forced from their homes. This includes nearly 9 million people displaced internally and over 3 million who have fled to neighbouring countries, according to OCHA.

Kenya, a historic mediator in regional conflicts, is directly impacted by the refugee influx, which strains resources in host communities and refugee camps like Kakuma and Dadaab. According to the latest available UNHCR data from mid-2025, Kenya hosts a significant refugee population, with new arrivals from Sudan adding to the already immense pressure. The conflict also disrupts vital trade and economic links, further destabilizing a region already grappling with economic and climate-related challenges.

Nairobi has long played a central role in peace efforts through the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD). On Tuesday, IGAD's special envoy, Lawrence Korbandy, confirmed the bloc is in continuous talks with both the warring parties and the Quad to bridge differences and secure a truce. The challenge for regional leaders, including Kenyan President William Ruto, is to harmonize these international efforts with African-led peace initiatives to ensure a sustainable resolution.

A Catastrophic Human Toll

Since erupting in April 2023, the power struggle between al-Burhan and his former deputy, Dagalo, has killed an estimated 150,000 to 400,000 people and pushed the nation to the brink of collapse. The UN warns that nearly two-thirds of Sudan's population, over 30 million people, require humanitarian assistance. Famine has been declared in parts of the country, including the recently fallen city of El Fasher in Darfur and Kadugli in South Kordofan, with millions facing catastrophic hunger.

Recent reports from El Fasher, which fell to the RSF in late October after an 18-month siege, detail widespread atrocities, including mass killings and sexual violence, raising fears of genocide. The International Organization for Migration reported on November 25 that over 106,000 people have fled the city since October 26, arriving exhausted and in urgent need of aid in surrounding areas. Despite the immense need, humanitarian access remains severely restricted by the fighting and obstruction from both sides, hindering the delivery of life-saving aid. The international community's 2025 humanitarian appeal for $4.2 billion remains just over one-third funded, according to OCHA, leaving a massive gap as the crisis deepens.

As diplomatic efforts continue, the stark reality on the ground is one of escalating violence and immense civilian suffering. The failure to secure a ceasefire threatens not only to prolong Sudan's agony but also to further destabilize the entire Horn of Africa.