Sudan welcomes US and Saudi mediation efforts to end civil war

Sudan's governing Transitional Sovereignty Council has formally welcomed new peace initiatives from the United States and Saudi Arabia aimed at ending the brutal conflict that has ravaged the country since April 2023. In an official statement posted on social media platform X, the council praised the efforts to bring "just and equitable peace to Sudan" and confirmed the government's commitment to serious engagement with both Washington and Riyadh.

High-Level Diplomatic Appreciation

The diplomatic overture received personal endorsement from Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the Council's Chairman and head of the Sudanese army, who separately thanked both Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and US President Donald Trump. This high-level appreciation came shortly after President Trump publicly stated that the US is "going to start working on Sudan" following a direct request from the Saudi Crown Prince, signaling a potential reinvigoration of international mediation efforts.

The Human Cost of Conflict

The war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has created one of the world's most severe humanitarian crises. Recent estimates from the International Organization for Migration indicate that over 140,000 civilians have been displaced from El-Fasher and North Kordofan since late October alone due to RSF military operations, adding to the millions already displaced since the conflict began.

Current Military Stalemate

The conflict has resulted in a stark territorial division. The RSF currently maintains control over all five states in the western Darfur region, while the national army holds most of the country's other 13 states, including the capital, Khartoum. This stalemate has persisted for over a year, with numerous previous ceasefire attempts failing to produce a lasting resolution to the fighting that has killed tens of thousands of Sudanese citizens.