By Open Chronicle with agencies
The United States does not formally recognise Sudan’s army aligned administration as the country’s legitimate government and is working with regional and international partners to secure a humanitarian truce in the war torn nation, a senior adviser to President Donald Trump has said.
Massad Boulos, Trump’s senior adviser for Arab and African affairs, said Washington was coordinating diplomatic efforts with Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, which together with the United States form the diplomatic grouping known as the Quad on Sudan.
The initiative also involves Qatar, Turkey and European countries as international efforts continue to bring an end to the conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
“Today we are striving, together with our brothers in the Quad … as well as our brothers in Qatar and Turkey and in Europe, towards a new peaceful path,” Boulos said in an interview with Sky News Arabia broadcast on Saturday.
He clarified that Washington maintains contacts with Sudan’s army aligned authorities as a de facto administration but does not formally recognise them as the country’s government.
The United States also rejects the establishment of rival administrations or any attempt to divide Sudan.
“At the same time, we do not recognise any parallel governments and we oppose partition,” Boulos said, reaffirming Washington’s support for Sudan’s territorial integrity.
Washington Pushes for a Humanitarian Truce
Sudan has been devastated by fighting between the SAF and RSF since April 2023, when a power struggle between the country’s military leadership and the paramilitary organisation escalated into a nationwide war.
The conflict has killed tens of thousands of people, forced millions from their homes and created one of the world’s most severe humanitarian emergencies.
Large parts of the country have experienced widespread destruction, disrupted healthcare services, food insecurity and the collapse of essential infrastructure.
Boulos said Washington’s immediate priority was to secure a humanitarian truce that would allow aid organisations to reach vulnerable populations and provide greater protection for civilians.
The proposed truce would be followed by negotiations towards a permanent ceasefire and a political transition to civilian government.
The American diplomatic initiative is based on a five point peace plan announced in February, which includes an immediate humanitarian truce, sustained humanitarian access, civilian protection, a permanent ceasefire, a transition to civilian rule and postwar reconstruction.
“There is no military solution in Sudan,” Boulos said. “The only solution is a peaceful solution.”
The United States hopes that coordinated international pressure will encourage the warring parties to accept a negotiated settlement and create conditions for a broader political process.
US Seeks Nationwide Arms Embargo as Drone Warfare Intensifies
Washington is also pursuing an expansion of the existing United Nations arms embargo on Sudan’s Darfur region to cover the entire country.
The proposal comes amid growing concerns over the increasing use of drones and the supply of foreign military equipment to both sides of the conflict.
On September 11, the UN Security Council unanimously extended the existing sanctions regime for one month to allow further negotiations over the American proposal.
Russia and China have opposed expanding the embargo beyond Darfur, creating a diplomatic obstacle to the proposed nationwide restrictions.
Boulos said Washington did not regard the delay as a failure and would continue discussions with Security Council members.
The proposed measures would restrict the supply of weapons and related military technology throughout Sudan, including unmanned aerial systems.
“It is fundamentally a war of drones,” Boulos said.
The growing use of unmanned aircraft has transformed the conflict, allowing both sides to conduct attacks over greater distances and increasing concerns about the protection of civilian populations.
A United Nations fact finding mission has reported that both the SAF and RSF have received foreign military support, including weapons and technology linked to attacks that have harmed civilians.
The mission has also documented evidence of civilian harm resulting from SAF operations involving foreign supplied drones.
Washington has imposed sanctions on individuals and organisations accused of supporting the warring parties and has sought to disrupt financial networks associated with the conflict.
Boulos said the United States wanted foreign military assistance to both sides to end.
Washington Opposes a Political Role for Sudan’s Warring Generals
The Trump administration has also stated that neither Sudanese army chief General Abdel Fattah al Burhan nor RSF commander General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, widely known as Hemedti, should govern Sudan after the war.
Boulos said the country’s future political system should ultimately be determined by the Sudanese people through a broad and inclusive political process.
Washington supports a transition involving civilian political parties, civil society organisations and other representatives of Sudanese society.
However, Boulos said extremist organisations, including elements associated with the Muslim Brotherhood, should not participate in the proposed political process.
The exclusion of the two military leaders from a future government forms part of Washington’s broader diplomatic approach to establishing civilian rule and preventing the continuation of military dominated politics.
The United States has also warned against Sudan developing a political system resembling that of Libya, where rival authorities have competed for control of the country.
Washington opposes the creation of parallel governments and any arrangement that could lead to Sudan’s territorial fragmentation.
Ceasefire Efforts Face Continuing Military Resistance
Despite international diplomatic efforts, significant disagreements remain between Sudan’s warring parties over the conditions required for a ceasefire.
The RSF has indicated that it is prepared to accept a 90 day humanitarian truce but has rejected certain proposed arrangements involving the withdrawal of its forces.
Burhan, meanwhile, has repeatedly stated that the Sudanese army will continue military operations until the RSF is defeated.
These opposing positions have complicated attempts to establish a lasting cessation of hostilities and have raised questions about how an initial humanitarian truce could develop into a permanent peace agreement.
The conflict has also become increasingly internationalised, with regional powers involved in diplomatic initiatives and allegations of foreign military assistance continuing to surround the fighting.
Boulos said the United States would maintain its diplomatic engagement with regional and international partners in an effort to bring both sides towards a ceasefire and a political settlement.
Washington’s stated objective is to preserve Sudan’s unity, restore civilian government and establish conditions for the country’s reconstruction after years of conflict.
“Sudan must remain united,” Boulos said.
For millions of Sudanese civilians affected by the war, the immediate priority remains an end to the fighting and the restoration of access to food, medical care and other essential humanitarian assistance.