Political, human rights and union forces welcome ‘Quartet’ commitments to end Sudan war

September 13, 2025 (KHARTOUM) – Political forces, trade unions, and human rights groups on Friday welcomed a joint statement by the Quartet countries – the United States, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Egypt – that set a timetable for a humanitarian truce in Sudan.

Islamist groups, which the Quartet’s statement accused of fuelling the war and obstructing peace efforts, have not issued a response.

The Civilian Democratic Alliance “Samoud,” led by former Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, said it welcomed the conclusions reached by the international group. In a statement, the alliance said the plan put forward a clear course of action to end the conflict and called on the warring parties to commit to it immediately.

The alliance’s statement highlighted key elements of the Quartet’s roadmap, which it said begins with a three-month humanitarian truce to ensure aid access, leading to a permanent ceasefire. This would be followed by a nine-month political process aimed at forming a civilian authority with broad popular support, the statement added.

Mubarak al-Fadil, head of the Umma Party, said the Quartet’s statement was a responsible and balanced position reflecting the international community’s awareness of Sudan’s humanitarian catastrophe. He said the war’s continuation threatens Sudan’s unity and regional security.

The future of governance in Sudan must be civilian-led and democratic through a transparent transitional process not dominated by the warring parties, al-Fadil said, adding that it should lead to an accountable civilian government. He also backed the demand to dismantle the influence of extremist groups that have destabilized the region.

The Emergency Lawyers, a human rights group, also welcomed the statement. It called on all Sudanese parties to engage seriously with the initiative and “participate responsibly in a political process that places the interest of the nation and the citizen above all considerations.”

The Democratic Alliance of Lawyers stated that the joint statement was a significant step toward resolving the conflict. The group said the statement was a positive signal of the international community’s commitment to stopping the war and created favourable conditions for political dialogue.

Any successful political process must include accountability for all parties, the lawyers’ alliance said in a statement, to enhance the rule of law and ensure justice.

The Sudanese Professionals and Trade Unions Coordination also welcomed the move, saying Sudan’s future “cannot be dictated by warlords, militias, or extremist groups, but is the inherent right of the Sudanese people alone.”

The group said any political process must ensure purely civilian leadership and genuine accountability for crimes committed against civilians.