U.S. Envoy: Many Countries and Negative Actors Are Fueling the Conflict in Sudan

Follow-ups - Moatinoon
The U.S. Special Envoy to Sudan, Tom Perriello, told Alhurra TV that "many countries and negative actors are fueling the conflict there," highlighting the ongoing U.S. efforts to stop the violence in Sudan and provide humanitarian aid ahead of negotiations between the conflicting parties in Geneva.

In an interview on the "Between Two Niles" program from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia—where upcoming pre-Geneva negotiations are set to take place—Perriello emphasized the hope for peace in Sudan.

Since April 2023, Sudan has been engulfed in a bloody war between the military, led by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the Rapid Support Forces, led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as "Hemedti." The conflict has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and displaced more than 11 million people within Sudan and to neighboring countries.

This has also led to a major humanitarian crisis, pushing the country to the brink of famine not seen since the Ethiopian famine in the 1980s.

Perriello stressed the urgency of delivering humanitarian aid and stopping the violence, noting extensive consultations with over 100,000 Sudanese from all 18 states and the diaspora to understand their desires for the peace negotiations.

He stated, "It is clear that people want an immediate ceasefire and humanitarian aid. We are also talking to the warring parties and key international partners."

U.S. Interest in Resolving the Sudan Crisis
Perriello underscored that Sudan is a priority for President Joe Bidens administration, adding that "there is bipartisan commitment on this issue across all administrations. Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken have personally engaged to push for efforts to stop the violence and maximize humanitarian aid."

He highlighted the involvement of various levels of the U.S. government, including the State Department, USAID, and U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield. "This is a whole-of-government effort, and we will continue to engage with partners worldwide and countries with observers in Sudan...countries that care about the Sudanese people and want a return to peace."

The Sudanese government confirmed on Friday that it had sent a delegation to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to consult with the U.S. administration regarding the invitation to attend negotiations in Geneva on August 14 to discuss a ceasefire in Sudan.

Seeking a Meeting Between the Warring Parties
When asked about the level of Sudanese participation and whether al-Burhan or Hemedti might attend the Geneva talks, Perriello responded that "the invitation was extended to both al-Burhan and Hemedti. We are talking about a ceasefire without granting legitimacy to either party."

He added, "We just want them to meet to agree on stopping the violence. We hope for representation at the highest levels, but the main thing is that someone with decision-making power participates—someone of high standing to reach practical results, address all crises, and begin implementing previous agreements, focusing on the Sudanese people."

Regarding previous agreements that were not implemented and were sponsored by the U.S. in Jeddah, Perriello noted that while these agreements had some impact, they were not fully implemented. "We want to reach agreements on implementing and monitoring what is happening on the ground."

He continued, "We know that since these agreements were reached, weve seen changes on the ground. Weve seen what happened in El Fasher, Blue Nile, and other places with rising hunger and famine in some areas, and we continue to witness atrocities like the targeting of hospitals by the Rapid Support Forces."

Perriello stressed that "all of this must stop, there must be accountability, and those responsible must be brought to the table. That is why we are constantly engaging with the Sudanese people inside the country, in neighboring states, and in the diaspora."

He confirmed that the Geneva negotiations are "an opportunity to demand action from the Sudanese people inside the country and from the international community, which must do more to address the crisis."

Pressure Tools
Regarding the tools available to the U.S. to pressure the warring parties into reaching an agreement, Perriello said, "We have used sanctions against individuals and companies that committed crimes and atrocities, and we can strengthen these sanctions and work with our partners to increase them."

However, the main point of pressure is listening to the Sudanese people, who have been clear and united in their desire for an end to the fighting, access to humanitarian aid, and the restoration of stability in the democratic transition process.

He pointed out that the Sudanese people want to control their future, and while the negotiations have not yet addressed this, Perriello emphasized that it remains a priority.

He confirmed that "the primary goal is to end the violence, deliver aid, and increase international assistance. We need our partners to strengthen their support. Egypt, which has played an important role in bringing viewpoints closer together, will continue to play a role in the negotiations, and I believe there is a real opportunity for progress."

Negative Actors
Perriello emphasized that the U.S. administration has imposed "sanctions on members of the military and the Rapid Support Forces for committing atrocities and crimes, as well as on individuals and companies fueling the conflict—they will pay the price...anyone who violates international humanitarian law will pay the price."

He noted, "We have many countries and negative actors fueling the conflict, including Iran, Russia, and the UAE, and there are militants coming from the Sahel region within extremist groups."

He stressed that "the most vulnerable groups are women and children caught between two fires. The international community must play a role; those undermining the solution cannot continue to do so. We call on all allies and partners in the region to reach a unified roadmap for peace in Sudan. The interest so far is not enough, but we will push the players, and I believe we have made progress that we will see in the Geneva negotiations."

The U.S. Position
Regarding the current U.S. position on the warring parties, Perriello said, "Our stance is to stand by the Sudanese people and ensure compliance with international law and the commitment of all parties to it."

He noted the importance of the presence of all active parties in the conflict, as they are part of the problem, emphasizing that this does not mean granting legitimacy to any of these parties. The purpose of inviting them is to reach an outcome and a ceasefire.

"We invited the participants as part of the conflict...we invited the two parties based on their military status...it is an effort to bring them together with some key partners to move the negotiations forward."

Other Parties
Regarding the UAE and Egypts role in the negotiations, Perriello said Egypt is "an extremely important strategic partner." He added, "While not all countries have viewed the situation through the same lens, everyone agrees on the need to end the war, whether the concerned countries support the Sudanese army or lean in another direction. But everyone realizes that what is happening in Sudan affects regional stability and that the suffering has become unbearable."

He continued, "Egypt is one of the neighboring countries that has opened its borders to the Sudanese people fleeing atrocities. It has played a constructive role, and I believe its contribution will be crucial in the mediation process in Switzerland."

Regarding the presence of any representatives of civil forces in the negotiations, Perriello said, "There is engagement with many civil forces, but there is no official participation. However, every day we listen directly to the mediators and everyone who supports mediation and communicates with Sudanese civilians inside and outside Sudan. We will continue this engagement throughout the negotiations."

A Heartbreaking Story
The U.S. official mentioned that "the story of Sudan is heartbreaking, but we must maintain hope. I know that some trucks are entering certain communities, and there are brave individuals working to deliver food to some areas for civilians. But often, we also see that the most vulnerable people are being used as weapons of war, with aid sometimes deliberately stopped or civilians deliberately targeted."

He added, "We have seen atrocities committed, including ethnic cleansing by the Rapid Support Forces and the systematic use of rape as a weapon. We must stop all these violations."