US, Saudi Arabia push for immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Sudan

January 6, 2026 (RIYADH) – The United States Senior Adviser for Africa, Massad Boulos, held high-level talks with senior Saudi officials in Riyadh on Tuesday to advance joint efforts toward securing a humanitarian ceasefire in Sudan.

The meeting included Saudi Arabia’s Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman Al Saud, Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Walid El-Khereiji, and Political Affairs Adviser Prince Musab bin Mohammed Al-Farhan. Discussions focused on coordinating with regional partners to halt the fighting that has devastated Sudan since April 2023.

“We had a fruitful meeting focused on our joint efforts, along with regional partners, to get a humanitarian ceasefire in Sudan,” Boulos stated following the talks. He added that the U.S.-Saudi partnership is also working to foster progress on broader regional security issues.

The diplomatic push comes at a critical time for Sudan, where the conflict between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has triggered one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.

Recent reports highlight a catastrophic situation in North Darfur and Kordofan, with millions facing acute food insecurity and displacement.

The current mediation effort is built on a framework proposed by the International Quad, comprising the U.S., Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the UAE. The initiative proposes a three-month humanitarian truce to facilitate aid delivery to besieged areas, followed by a political process to establish a civilian-led government.

Saudi Arabia has maintained a central role in mediating the conflict through the Jeddah process. Riyadh’s continued engagement, alongside the U.S. administration, reflects a renewed international attempt to break the military stalemate and prevent further regional destabilization.