Quad initiative seeks immediate humanitarian truce, political process to rescue Sudan from collapse

The African Union, IGAD, EU, and the League of Arab States have thrown their weight behind the Quad initiative, calling for urgent, coordinated political action to prevent Sudan’s collapse.

Speaking at the 2nd Forum of Special Envoys and Representatives on Tuesday, IGAD's Executive Secretary Workneh Gebeyehu acknowledged the severe humanitarian and political crisis in Sudan, worsened by the fall of El-Fasher, which he described as a grim symbol of the war's brutality.

"What unfolded in Darfur was neither unexpected nor inevitable. It was foreseen. We understood the risks. We raised the alarm. And yet, despite that knowledge, we were unable to prevent it," the envoy said.

Workneh noted that Sudan teeters on the brink of collapse following nearly three years of conflict, fuelled by Sudanese actors and a constellation of external forces—many influential and deeply entangled—forcing civilians to pay with their lives.

No credible peace effort

"More than two and a half years since fighting began, we must speak plainly: There is still no credible peace effort underway. Not one that is commensurate with the scale of the crisis. Not one capable of altering the calculations of the warring parties. Not one that reflects the urgency demanded by a collapsing nation," he added.

Officials also highlighted that humanitarian coordination efforts have been inadequate relative to the scale of the war.

Sudanese groups, regional bodies, and international partners have, however, reached a broad consensus on key principles for peace, stressing that there is no military solution, unity must be preserved, an inclusive political process is essential, and ending the war is critical to Sudan's future.

The IGAD head urged that the primacy of the Quad in brokering a humanitarian truce must be pursued with renewed urgency.

"The Quad statement of September has provided a clear direction. The primacy of the Quad in brokering a humanitarian truce must be pursued with renewed urgency. IGAD and its member states support such an undertaking," he told participants.

Three-stage roadmap

The "Quad" process for Sudan proposes a three-stage roadmap to end the conflict: a three-month humanitarian truce, a permanent ceasefire, and a nine-month political process to establish a civilian-led government.

The initiative, announced on September 12, 2025, aims to first launch a three-month humanitarian truce to allow rapid delivery of aid to civilians nationwide.

This will be followed by a permanent ceasefire to halt fighting, and finally, a nine-month transition period for Sudanese parties to negotiate and establish an independent, civilian-led government.

Though the proposal has received support from the UN and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), it faces challenges, including internal divisions in Sudan and objections from some government-aligned agencies.

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Workneh emphasised that while the Quad is advancing the truce track, multilaterals must step up decisively on the political track to enable stronger, more systematic coordination.

In line with this, IGAD, in partnership with the AU, is preparing to convene a preparatory consultation with key Sudanese political and civic formations in Luanda, Angola.

The aim is to affirm, consolidate, and harmonise positions adopted by the AU Peace and Security Council, the IGAD Ministerial Committee, the UN Security Council, the League of Arab States, and the EU, alongside the Quad Communiqué.

Inclusive political process

The consultation is also intended to trigger an inclusive political process, allowing Sudanese actors to adapt and take ownership of international frameworks in the journey toward a Sudanese-led path to stability.

The latest assessment shows Sudan faces an unprecedented crisis marked by existential fragmentation, a deepening humanitarian collapse, and escalating atrocities. External interference and weapons inflows continue to worsen the conflict.

"We have no time left to repeat old mistakes. The stakes: Sudan's survival, regional stability, and Africa's credibility are too high. This forum is an opportunity to reenergize, reorganise, and re-commit ourselves with a renewed sense of purpose," said Workneh.