US to launch Sudan peace initiative following Saudi Arabia's request

The United States is preparing to launch a new diplomatic initiative aimed at ending the ongoing conflict in Sudan, following a direct request from Saudi Arabia's leadership. President Donald Trump announced the policy shift during a Saudi-US investment forum, revealing that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had personally appealed for American involvement in resolving the devastating war that has gripped the African nation.

A shift in US policy

Trump acknowledged that Sudan had not previously been a priority in his administration's foreign policy agenda, describing the conflict as something he initially considered "crazy and out of control." However, he stated that the Saudi leader's emphasis on the crisis convinced him of its importance. "We're going to start working on Sudan," Trump declared, though it remains uncertain whether this represents a significant departure from existing US engagement.

Characterizing the crisis

In subsequent comments on his Truth Social platform, the president characterized Sudan as "the most violent place on Earth" and "the single biggest Humanitarian Crisis," noting that "tremendous atrocities are taking place." He outlined plans for collaborative efforts with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and other regional partners to both end the violence and work toward stabilizing the country politically and economically.

The ongoing conflict context

The Sudanese conflict involves fighting between the national army and the Rapid Support Forces paramilitary group that began on April 15, 2023. The war has resulted in thousands of fatalities and displaced millions of civilians throughout the country. Currently, the RSF maintains control over all five states in the Darfur region, while government forces hold most of the remaining territory including the capital Khartoum, creating a protracted stalemate.