Musaad Bolis, Senior Advisor to the U.S. President for Africa and the Middle East, announced that Sudan’s warring factions—the army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF)—are moving closer to holding direct talks aimed at ending one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Bolis said Washington is engaged in intensive discussions with both sides to establish guiding principles for negotiations. He expressed optimism that “tangible progress could be announced very soon,” noting that “the inability of either party to fully control the current situation makes them more willing to engage in dialogue.”
Bolis also voiced hope that long-delayed humanitarian aid would reach El Fasher, the besieged capital of North Darfur, “within days.” The city has been under an RSF blockade for over a year and has witnessed escalating violence. “We hope to see in the coming days the arrival of this much-needed assistance,” Bolis said, confirming that the RSF had agreed to allow aid delivery. He added, “We have discussed and agreed with the RSF on a mechanism that enables humanitarian supplies to reach El Fasher.”
His remarks followed a meeting of the “Sudan Quad”—the United States, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates—held on the margins of the UNGA. In a joint statement, the four nations underscored “the importance of ending the conflict in Sudan, restoring peace, and addressing the humanitarian needs of the Sudanese people.”
Bolis’s comments came just hours after a deadly strike on a marketplace in El Fasher killed 15 civilians, according to a medical source on Tuesday.
In a follow-up message posted on X on Wednesday evening, Bolis reiterated the group’s commitment: “The four countries confirmed their resolve to end the conflict in Sudan, restore peace, and meet the humanitarian needs of the Sudanese people. This war has gone on for too long, and the U.S. President is committed to achieving peace.”
Sudan’s war erupted in April 2023 when fierce clashes broke out between the national army and the RSF across multiple regions. Both sides have vied for control of strategic locations and state institutions, plunging the country into turmoil.
Despite mediation efforts by Arab, African, and international actors—including attempts to broker lasting ceasefires—no permanent truce has been achieved.
