Sudanese military chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan has publicly rejected negotiations and pledged to continue operations until regaining all RSF-held territory, even as factions signed a US- and Saudi-mediated seven-day ceasefire set to begin in mid-October. Civilian coalitions met Quintet mediators in Addis Ababa on October 12 to demand an immediate unconditional humanitarian truce, followed by Sudanese-led talks on a permanent ceasefire, aid access, and civilian transition. The UN Security Council extended the Darfur arms embargo through December while blocking broader sanctions, and earlier US proposals for a 90-day truce faced resistance over withdrawal terms and prisoner exchanges. Ongoing clashes in Kordofan and Blue Nile, alongside diplomatic pressure from IGAD, the AU, and envoys, continue to shape trader assessments of near-term de-escalation prospects.