A high-level meeting between four key international players aimed at resolving the Sudan conflict was postponed on Tuesday following a dispute between Egypt and the United Arab Emirates over the future role of Sudan’s rival forces in the peace process.

The talks, which were to bring together ministers from the United States, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Egypt in Washington, were called off after last-minute disagreements emerged over the wording of the final joint statement, according to diplomatic sources.

At the centre of the dispute was a proposal by the UAE to exclude both the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces from any role in a future transitional process.

An Arab diplomat said the UAE inserted the change shortly before the meeting, describing it as “totally unacceptable” to Egypt.

Cairo, which has long been a close ally of Sudan’s regular army, has repeatedly stated the need to protect Sudan’s national institutions.

Egypt rejected the idea of excluding both forces from the transitional process, reflecting its concern over who would lead the post-war governance structure.

According to a source close to the negotiations, a draft statement had initially been circulated by the United States and was accepted by all parties, including the UAE.

However, Egypt opposed the clause suggesting that neither of the warring parties should control the transitional period.

With the disagreement unresolved, the United States opted to postpone the meeting.

The gathering had been intended to chart a course toward negotiations aimed at ending Sudan’s ongoing war, which has already claimed tens of thousands of lives and triggered the world’s worst hunger and displacement crisis.

Egypt’s foreign ministry spokesman had earlier confirmed the Washington meeting was meant to build momentum for a peace process in Sudan, but the underlying rift between Cairo and Abu Dhabi over the vision for Sudan’s political future derailed the effort.