The Sudanese military government signals readiness for US-Saudi mediation, while the European Union takes action against paramilitary leaders following the fall of El-Fasher.
PORT SUDAN/BRUSSELS – In a significant diplomatic development, Sudan’s military-led government has expressed its willingness to cooperate with United States and Saudi-led peace efforts, even as the European Union imposed sanctions on a top commander of the rival Rapid Support Forces (RSF) for “grave atrocities.”
The Sudanese Sovereign Council, headed by Army Chief General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, issued a statement thanking the US and Saudi Arabia for “their continued efforts to stop Sudanese bloodshed” and confirming its “readiness to seriously engage with them to achieve the peace that the Sudanese people hope for.”
Diplomatic Openings and International Pressure
The statement from the army-aligned government aligns with recent international movements to address the conflict. This comes after former US President Donald Trump stated he would work with Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Egypt to help end the war, following a request from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
The conflict, which erupted in April 2023 between the national army and the paramilitary RSF, has created the world’s largest displacement crisis, killing tens of thousands and pushing millions to the brink of famine.
EU Sanctions RSF Commander Over Darfur Atrocities
Simultaneously, the European Union is ramping up pressure on the paramilitary side. On Thursday, the 27-nation bloc imposed a visa ban and asset freeze on Abdelrahim Hamdan Dagalo, the RSF’s second-in-command and brother of its leader, Mohammed “Hemedti” Hamdan Dagalo.
The sanctions are a direct response to the RSF’s capture of the city of El-Fasher in late October, the army’s last stronghold in the Darfur region. The EU statement condemned “in the strongest terms the grave and ongoing atrocities,” citing reports of ethnically motivated killings, systemic sexual violence, and pillaging in the city’s wake.
“These acts may constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity,” the EU declared.
The Regional Dimension and Arms Flows
The war has been characterized by complex regional alliances. The Sudanese government and UN experts have repeatedly accused the United Arab Emirates of supporting the RSF with weapons, a claim Abu Dhabi denies.
In a related comment, EU officials indicated plans to increase outreach to countries acting as “enablers” of the conflict in an effort to stem the flow of weaponry fueling the violence.
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