US Official Declares No Military Path to Peace in Sudan, Urges Diplomatic Solutions

A senior United States official has emphasized that the ongoing civil war in Sudan cannot be resolved through military means, warning that the conflict is exacerbating regional instability. Massad Boulos, President Donald Trump's senior adviser for Arab and African affairs, stated that Washington representatives recently participated in the sixth Consultative Meeting on Sudan in Geneva, alongside delegates from 27 other nations.

"Every day that this war continues comes at a devastating cost to Sudanese civilians and risks spreading further instability to the region," Mr. Boulos posted on X on Thursday. The conflict's wider regional impact was highlighted by a drone strike near Sudan's western border in Chad, which resulted in four fatalities and at least 14 injuries, according to an official from Chad's Wadi-Fira province.

Sudan's civil war, which erupted in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has frequently spilled over into Chad. Previous international initiatives to end the conflict have not yielded success.

Mr. Boulos expressed strong backing for the efforts of the Quintet—comprising the African Union, Arab League, UN, EU, and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development—to foster an inclusive and credible Sudanese-led political process. He noted that these efforts align with US engagement through the Quad, which includes the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt, to advocate for a humanitarian truce that could lead to a permanent ceasefire.

During the Geneva meeting, participants urged all parties to the conflict to engage constructively towards de-escalation, ensure the protection of civilians, and commit to a humanitarian truce. Nations represented at the meeting included the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, the UK, Chad, China, France, Germany, Russia, Switzerland, and South Sudan. Mr. Boulos extended his gratitude to Switzerland and the UN for hosting the event, stating that attendees collectively voiced their support for ending the conflict.

Earlier this month, African civil society groups called for Sudan to permit international inspectors to investigate allegations of chemical weapon use by the SAF. In a resolution adopted at a forum in Dakar, Senegal, these groups urged the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights to press Sudan to allow the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to deploy technical teams. Both the SAF and RSF have faced accusations of war crimes and human rights violations from the UN. The conflict has triggered one of the world's most severe humanitarian crises, with the UN World Food Programme reporting that over 14 million people have been displaced and nearly 20 million are facing hunger.