By SUDAN TRIBUNE
March 17, 2024 (KHARTOUM)—The U.S. Envoy for Sudan, Tom Perriello, expressed cautious optimism about ending the ongoing conflict in Sudan while urging all parties to act urgently. In an interview with the BBC on Saturday, Perriello emphasized the war’s detrimental impact not just on Sudan but on the entire region.
The newly appointed envoy acknowledged the role of external actors in fuelling the conflict and stated that the U.S. is pressuring all parties to become “partners in peace.” He warned of the potential for a prolonged conflict with devastating consequences, including the resurgence of extremism.
“We are seeing the return of militants, extreme Islamists in the area, something that the people of Sudan spent decades trying to eradicate,” Perriello said. “We are talking about a problem that could go on for 10, 20 years.”
Shared concerns with Gulf partners
Perriello highlighted the growing concern among regional actors, including Gulf countries, about the potential for a wider destabilization. He pointed to the documented rise of extremist elements within the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) as a cause for alarm.
“I think anyone with eyes wide open can see the situation here,” he stated. “The war has no sign of either side having a clean victory. It’s a clear message that we need to end this.”
He emphasized the urgency of finding a solution, stressing that the next few weeks could be a turning point.
“These generals can solve this tomorrow,” he said. “This region can solve it. I think there’s an enormous amount of political will right now to do that, more than I’ve seen in the past few months.”
Sudanese military officials accused the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of backing the paramilitary forces, but the Gulf country denied the accusations despite numerous reports and statements from international officials.
Learning from the Past
Perriello acknowledged that some regional leaders might have chosen differently if they could foresee the current situation. He expressed hope that the shared interest in avoiding a prolonged conflict could be a catalyst for peace.
“Many leaders, if we could go back in a time machine, would have understood what cost this was going to have,” Perriello said. “There’s tremendous interest in ending this because people have seen the level of crisis and the regional implications of a failed state with extremist elements.”
The U.S. Envoy’s message underscores the critical juncture in the Sudanese conflict. While acknowledging the challenges, Perriello sees an opportunity for peace if all actors prioritize a rapid resolution.
A prominent member of the Sudanese army delegation to the Jeddah peace talks recently revealed to Sudan Tribune that the U.S. is pressuring his government to include the UAE in the peace process.
However, he firmly rejected this proposal, emphasizing Sudan’s preference for continued Saudi-American mediation. The official stated that the UAE’s potential role as a mediator could only be reconsidered “if Abu Dhabi demonstrably ceases its support for the insurgency and takes concrete steps to foster an environment conducive to resolving the conflict.”
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