Regional Conflict Escalates: Sudan Rejects Ceasefire Amid New Drone Strikes as UN Chief Backs Trump-Led Gaza Reconstruction

Al-Burhan rejects Sudan truce as drones hit Al-Dabba. UN Chief Guterres announces cooperation with Trump's Board of Peace for Gaza. Israel strikes Beirut.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 21, 2026, 5:21 AM EDT

Source: Information sourced from Asharq Al-Awsat

Sudan Conflict: Al-Burhan Rejects Eid Ceasefire

In a defiant Eid al-Fitr address on March 19, 2026, Sudanese Army Chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan shut down hopes for a humanitarian truce. He emphasized that there would be "no truce" or reconciliation with the "Dagalo militia" (RSF) until they fully withdraw from occupied cities and surrender. Al-Burhan’s stance directly counters a proposal by the "Quad group"—comprising the U.S., Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Egypt—which sought a three-month humanitarian pause. The Sudanese government specifically rejected the initiative due to the involvement of the UAE, whom they accuse of fueling the conflict.

Drone Strikes Target Northern Sudan and Chadian Border

Hours after al-Burhan’s speech, drone attacks attributed to the RSF struck the strategic northern town of Al-Dabba on March 20, 2026. The strikes hit a power station and the University of Dongola’s Faculty of Engineering, injuring at least three civilians and cutting electricity to the region. This follows a deadly spillover earlier in the week where a Sudanese drone killed 17 people in the Chadian border town of Tine, prompting Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Déby to order immediate military retaliation against any further incursions.

UN and Trump "Board of Peace" Align on Gaza

In a notable diplomatic development, UN Secretary-General António Guterres confirmed to Politico on March 21, 2026, that the UN is "cooperating actively" with President Donald Trump’s newly established Board of Peace. While Guterres expressed reservations about the Board’s broader political role, he welcomed its specific mandate to fund and deliver the reconstruction of Palestinian homes and infrastructure. Guterres underscored that any peace initiative must remain rooted in international law and the UN Charter.