Massad Boulos, the senior Africa envoy for President Donald Trump, has addressed criticism regarding the U.S.’s recent proposal to mediate the civil war in Sudan, stating that allegations of bias are unfounded. The U.S., alongside Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), is working to facilitate discussions between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which have been engaged in conflict for over two years.
Sudan’s army chief, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, expressed rejection of the latest ceasefire proposal, deeming it unacceptable and suggesting that future proposals will be biased as long as the UAE is involved. Burhan accused Trump’s administration of imposing conditions, emphasizing that while they do not oppose peace, they will not be threatened or dictated to.
Boulos countered Burhan’s claims at a media briefing, asserting that accusations of bias in the U.S. proposal are unsubstantiated. The U.S. and its allies, known as “the Quad,” proposed a three-month humanitarian truce in September, envisioning a transition to civilian governance following a permanent ceasefire.
The Sudanese army has been suspicious of foreign involvement, particularly accusing the UAE of supplying weapons and foreign fighters to the RSF. Despite these allegations, the UAE denies any support for the RSF. United Nations experts have indicated that claims of military assistance are credible, but the Gulf nation continues to refute them.
On a related note, the RSF announced a unilateral ceasefire that they attribute to international diplomatic efforts, particularly from the U.S. However, reports indicate that the RSF launched an attack on an army stronghold shortly after announcing this ceasefire. The ongoing conflict, which began in April 2023, has created a humanitarian crisis, displacing approximately 12 million people and leading to numerous war crimes attributed to both sides. The situation in Sudan remains complex, with various international actors involved in attempts to broker peace.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1lrgr741z3o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss