Donald Trump was referring to the Sudan war like a conflict “crazy and out of control”too chaotic to get directly involved. But the script twist came after a visit to Washington by the Saudi crown prince, Mohamed bin Salmán, who convinced the American president to get involved in a war that began in April 2023 and that has already become the worst humanitarian crisis and of displacements of the planet, with 12 million Sudanese forced to flee their homes.
“His Majesty wants me to do something very powerful regarding Sudan”Trump said before a business forum in which he participated with the Saudi prince. “Let’s start working on it.” In a message on his social network Truth Social, he called the African country “the most violent place on earth” and “the biggest humanitarian crisis in the world,” underscoring the urgency of food, doctors and basic aid.
On the ground, skepticism and the desire to cling to any glimmer of hope go hand in hand. “The only way I see to end the war in Sudan is strong and sustained international pressureespecially from the countries with the most influence on both sides of the conflict,” Esperanza Santos, emergency coordinator in Sudan for Doctors Without Borders (MSF), explains to EL PERIÓDICO. The organization, strictly impartial, claims to celebrate any real progress towards peace, but warns against naive readings. “We don’t get involved in politics, but we are not naive either. to think that this is a purely civil conflict and that it does not leave the borders of Sudan,” says Santos.
The war, maintained “by economic and political interests, and also by the trade in weapons and other goods”, which continues to fuel violence, can only be unblocked by actors with influence such as USA or the Quadthe US alliance with Egypt, Saudi Arabia y United Arab Emirates. “Because of the discourse that the two parties have, “There does not seem to be a desire or desire to resolve this conflict in a way other than military.” and yet, the two opposing sides are still tied after two years of bloody fighting, says Santos, who reports to this newspaper from Chad, where the humanitarian response is being coordinated.
US allies on both sides
If the US has the capacity to exert that pressure, it is because He has allies on both sides. For this same reason their inaction is understood, to not face any of them. On one hand, the sudanese regular armyled by General Abdel Fattah al Burhan, has political, financial and, at times, military support from Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Qatar. In front, the paramilitaries Rapid Support Forces have benefited from support from the United Arab Emiratesaccording to multiple Western intelligence assessments, despite their denial.
This network of crossed supports turns the war not only into a Sudanese tragedy, but into a conflict shaped by countries that the US considers strategic partners. Any serious attempt at a ceasefire therefore involves upsetting key allies and navigating increasingly open regional rivalries.
Record humanitarian crisis
While diplomacy gets tangled, humanitarian crisis continues to break records. After more than 500 days of siege, 106,000 people have fled from the capital of North Darfur, El Fasher. “The city has become an epicenter of horror. “They have entered the city causing widespread panic and serious human rights violations: murders, executions, sexual violence, arbitrary arrests and looting,” he warns this newspaper. Paula Barrachina, UNHCR spokesperson.
The exodus occurs in extreme conditions, with journeys of more than 1,000 kilometers on foot for up to 15 dayswithout access to food or drinking water. “The needs are immense and urgent,” he emphasizes. One in three Sudanese is displaced and neighboring countries such as Chad hosts more than 1.2 million refugees.
More than 280 civilians die in RSF attacks in North Kordofan, according to a civil organization. The Sudanese Doctors Network speaks of a “total collapse” of the state’s health system amid an upsurge in fighting / Europa Press
The new interest of the US
Before Trump, his predecessor, Joe Bidenhad tried to channel the conflict through conventional diplomatic channels, promoting negotiations with Saudi Arabiaimposing sanctions on Sudanese officials and formally recognizing that acts of violence had been committed genocide in parts of Darfur. He also quietly put pressure on regional players, particularly the United Arab Emirates. But the lack of political visibility and the limited international push, when all eyes are on Gaza and Ukrainethey made ceasefire attempts fail and left the conflict on the back burner.
Therefore, the script twist is not only that Trump puts Sudan in the spotlight, but gets personally involved, because of his friendship with the Saudi crown prince. For humanitarian organizations, however, the core of the problem remains the same. “UNHCR makes a urgent call for protection of civilians and humanitarian access immediate and sustained,” insists Barrachina from UNHCR. Trump has promised to act, but time is against the civilian population. The question is whether his involvement will translate into real pressure on allies involved in the war or if Sudan will once again be trapped between diplomatic announcements and unrelenting violence.
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