The US, Saudis, Egypt and the UAE propose a truce and transition for Sudan, while Moscow warns against constraining the government. Also here: Ebola in Kasai, Zambia's debt deal and Russia's grain exports to Africa.
A Sudan peace plan from the “Quartet” of the United States, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the UAE proposes a three-month humanitarian ceasefire, a permanent end to hostilities and a nine-month transition to civilian rule, with no role for the Muslim Brotherhood. Washington backed it with sanctions on Finance Minister Jibril Ibrahim and the Islamist Baraa Ibn Malik Brigade, which fights alongside the army. At the UN Security Council, Russia voted to extend Sudan sanctions for another year, but Vasily Nebenzya warned against using them to constrain the government and rejected any expansion beyond Darfur.
The Africa Now bulletin of September 13, 2025 brings together 13 stories, drawn from official statements, US Treasury and UN Security Council documents, and regional media.
Scope
Russia’s economic and cultural ties run through the rest of the issue. Moscow’s trade with Morocco grew 73 percent in the first half of 2025, Africa took 27.2 million of the 75.8 million tons of grain Russia exported in 2024, South Africa’s Gayton McKenzie thanked Russia for its treatment of Africans ahead of the Intervision contest, and Mali’s ambassador presented his credentials to Alexander Lukashenko in Minsk.
The issue also covers the WHO’s call for funding to contain a new Ebola outbreak in Kasai, Zambia’s restructuring of 92 percent of its external debt, a single Zimbabwe-South Africa border post at Beitbridge, over 500 new non-commissioned officers in Burkina Faso, and a seizure of counterfeit drugs in Lagos.
Excerpt
The United States, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates proposed a three-month humanitarian ceasefire in Sudan followed by a permanent cessation of hostilities. In a joint statement, foreign ministers of the “Quartet” called for a nine-month transitional process after the truce to establish civilian governance. “This conflict has no viable military solution, and the status quo leads to unacceptable suffering and risks to peace and security,” the statement read. The Quartet also expressed support for Sudan’s unity.
The latest peace proposal rejects any role for the Muslim Brotherhood or affiliated groups in Sudan — a common adversary of the four countries. This represents a clear reference to Islamists who controlled Sudan for three decades until 2019 and became more active during the war, supporting the army.
The US simultaneously imposed sanctions on Finance Minister Jibril Ibrahim, an Islamist, and the Islamist “Baraa Ibn Malik Brigade” fighting alongside the army. Recent sanctions “aim to limit Islamist influence in Sudan and Iran’s regional activities,” according to the Treasury statement.
The army has accused the UAE of supporting the Rapid Support Forces. American lawmakers and experts have deemed these accusations credible, though the Gulf state has repeatedly denied them. Egypt and, to a lesser extent, Saudi Arabia have supported the army.
Sergey Konyashin, A Quartet Plan for Sudan and Moscow’s Caveats (Africa Now, Démarche, September 13, 2025)