U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington’s near-term objective is a cessation of hostilities in Sudan as the new year approaches. He described a humanitarian truce as the minimum condition required for relief agencies to resume operations amid a deepening crisis.

Ceasefire as Immediate Priority

Rubio said the U.S. is focused on securing a pause in fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, which have been at war since April 2023.

He stressed that continued hostilities make humanitarian operations impossible and leave civilians cut off from food, medicine, and basic services.

Aid Access and Civilian Impact

The secretary of state said aid delivery is currently not feasible, citing reports of humanitarian convoys being attacked.

He warned that ongoing fighting is intensifying civilian suffering and accelerating displacement, making a ceasefire the only realistic entry point for stabilizing access routes.

External Support and Diplomatic Limits

Rubio pointed to outside actors supplying weapons and equipment to the warring sides, including flows reaching the RSF, as a factor prolonging the conflict.

He acknowledged repeated failures of past commitments but said Washington will continue engaging regional partners and pressing for a humanitarian truce as a first step toward broader talks.