U.S. President Donald Trump’s Senior Adviser for Arab and African Affairs, Massad Boulos, said that reaching a solution to the conflict in Sudan should be backed by a decision from the UN Security Council, stressing that Washington deals with both sides of the war without formally recognizing either of them.
In an interview with Al Jazeera, Boulos said the official U.S. position, as expressed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, is that the only solution to the Sudan crisis is a peaceful one. He added that Washington, as a mediator, needs to communicate with all parties involved in the war because a military solution would only result in further destruction.
Boulos explained that his multiple meetings with Sovereignty Council Chairman Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Sudanese Foreign Minister Mohieddin Salem do not constitute formal recognition of the Sudanese government. Rather, he said, they are part of ongoing communication aimed at reaching a solution and pressing for the opening of safe humanitarian corridors.
In a related context, Boulos said the humanitarian dimension is closely linked to the political dimension, noting that many issues could be facilitated if a political solution moves forward.
He also said Washington supports the Quintet process, which brings together the African Union, Arab League, European Union, United Nations and IGAD, and which has received broad international support. The Quintet has recently reaffirmed that a political process must be accompanied by concrete steps to halt the fighting and protect civilians.
Boulos has also publicly stated in September that Washington supports a civilian-led political transition and does not formally recognize the SAF-backed government, while maintaining engagement with it as a de facto authority.
