U.S. postpones Sudan peace talks over dispute with Egypt over joint statement

A high-level diplomatic meeting aimed at advancing peace in Sudan that was set to occur this Wednesday was postponed by the United States due to a dispute over the wording of a proposed joint statement, Bloomberg reports, citing sources familiar with the matter.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio had been scheduled to host the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Egypt in Washington. The four nations—informally known as the Quad—have been working to broker peace between Sudan’s warring generals, whose conflict has raged since April 2023 – killing at least 150,000 people and forcing millions to flee.

However, the meeting was delayed after Egypt reportedly objected to a planned communiqué that stated neither the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) nor the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) should hold a leading role in any future transitional government. The objection derailed the discussions, said the sources, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter.

Egypt has long maintained close ties with the Sudanese army-backed government, while the UAE has faced accusations of supporting the RSF—a claim it denies.

The postponed meeting may now be rescheduled for the United Nations General Assembly in New York this September, according to one of the officials involved.

The Egyptian Foreign Ministry did not respond to a request for comment.