Khartoum – Al‑Yurae – Agencies – In a notable shift in Washington’s tone toward Sudan’s army, questions have emerged over whether the United States is re‑evaluating its policy on the conflict that has raged since April 2023, influenced by evolving regional dynamics — or if the new approach merely reflects tactical flexibility aimed at encouraging the military to engage in peace efforts.
Ahead of key upcoming meetings, Massad Boulos, Senior Adviser to President Donald Trump for Arab and African Affairs, made unusually positive remarks regarding U.S. relations with the Sudanese armed forces.
Boulos told reporters that previous U.S. concerns about the army were largely tied to its past relationship with Iran and with “extremist elements.” He added, “We know the Sudanese army has severed its ties with Iran some time ago and taken good steps regarding remnants of extremists from the former regime. These are encouraging actions that can help rebuild this relationship — not only with Israel, but with many other nations.”
Washington is preparing to host meetings of the International Quartet on October 24, focusing on securing a humanitarian truce and achieving a comprehensive ceasefire between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
Boulos’s comments contrast sharply with previous U.S. positions that expressed concern over the army’s links to Tehran and the lingering influence of former president Omar al‑Bashir’s network within Sudan’s military.
Some observers believe Washington’s shift could be linked to developments across the Middle East and the renewed warmth in U.S.–Egypt relations — with Cairo openly backing the Sudanese army in its ongoing war against the RSF.
On October 16, 2025, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el‑Sisi met in Cairo with Trump adviser Massad Boulos to discuss ways to end the conflict in Sudan and strengthen regional efforts for peace and stability.
During the meeting, both sides emphasized the importance of international cooperation to support Sudan’s stability while underscoring Egypt’s central role in leading regional initiatives aimed at resolving conflicts, particularly amid the worsening Sudanese crisis.
In a post on X, Boulos expressed his pleasure at meeting President el‑Sisi, stating that their discussion focused on regional challenges and paths to peace. “The United States appreciates Egypt’s leadership in addressing regional conflicts, including its constructive role in Sudan and its partnership within the Quartet,” he wrote.
The statement followed a meeting between el‑Sisi and Sudan’s Sovereign Council chairman Gen. Abdel Fattah al‑Burhan, during which they discussed the role of the Quartet — comprising Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States — as a key platform to advance efforts for ceasefire and stability in Sudan.
The war in Sudan remains a source of deep concern for Cairo, which nonetheless maintains a tough stance toward the Rapid Support Forces.
Egypt previously played a part in blocking U.S.‑backed Quartet peace talks proposed last July, viewing the plan as unfairly targeting the Sudanese army.
Analysts believe Washington’s new tone stems from the U.S. administration’s desire to ensure the success of this month’s planned negotiations and achieve a diplomatic breakthrough that could pave the way for peace in Sudan.
President Donald Trump, who presents himself as a peacemaker in the region, sees the success of the Quartet talks as politically and diplomatically significant for his administration.
In September, the Quartet — composed of the United States, Egypt, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia — proposed a six‑month humanitarian truce in Sudan to allow for renewed negotiations between the warring parties.
That proposal was strongly rejected by the Sudanese army and its allies, who argued it equated the country’s “legitimate authority” with a “militia,” referring to the RSF.
The harshest reaction came from the Islamic Movement, angered by the initiative’s insistence on excluding figures from the former regime from any future role in Sudan’s governance.
Analysts suggest that the Quartet’s initiative will likely form the foundation for upcoming talks in Washington, where members hope to build a more detailed framework for resolving the Sudanese conflict.
On Wednesday, President el‑Sisi received Gen. al‑Burhan at Ittihadiya Palace in Cairo to discuss the crisis and preparations for the Washington meetings.
Meanwhile, Wolfram Vetter, the European Union’s envoy, reaffirmed the bloc’s commitment to supporting a permanent ceasefire in Sudan.
According to a statement from Egypt’s presidency, both sides expressed hope that the Quartet’s meeting would produce concrete outcomes to end the war.
El‑Sisi reiterated Egypt’s “full support for Sudan’s unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, and categorical rejection of any attempts to threaten its security, undermine its cohesion, or create parallel governing entities to the legitimate Sudanese government.”
Analysts believe the Egyptian president may have sought to persuade al‑Burhan to show greater flexibility toward the Quartet’s peace efforts, warning that resistance could invite tougher measures from Washington and the broader international community.
In the midst of diplomatic activity preceding the Quartet meeting, the European Union mission announced that it had resumed its diplomatic representation to Sudan from Cairo, appointing Ambassador Wolfram Vetter to lead the mission during the current humanitarian crisis.
Ambassador Vetter noted that his assignment comes at a difficult moment for Sudan, reaffirming the EU’s determination to maintain its strong relationship with the country and to ensure the Sudanese people are not marginalized amid the crisis.
Vetter added that the EU remains committed to supporting a lasting ceasefire in Sudan, alongside humanitarian and development projects in critical areas such as food security, education, health, capacity building, and climate resilience.
He emphasized that the EU views Sudan as a strategic partner and is committed to helping its people overcome the current tragedy through sustainable diplomatic and humanitarian engagement aimed at ensuring stability and preventing the conflict’s spillover into neighboring regions.
This widening international engagement reflects a growing consensus toward ending the war and reviving Sudan’s path to national reconstruction.
Since mid‑April 2023, Sudan has been engulfed in a conflict between the national army and the Rapid Support Forces. Despite multiple regional and international mediation efforts, the war continues.
The fighting has killed more than 20,000 people and displaced or driven into exile about 15 million others, according to UN and local estimates. A study by U.S. universities, however, placed the actual death toll at around 130,000.
