US in talks with Sudanese army, RSF to stop the war

September 22, 2025 (ADDIS ABABA) – The United States is in communication with Sudan’s army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) through various channels to stop the country’s war, a senior U.S. diplomat told Sudan Tribune on Monday.

The diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed contacts were ongoing with both sides but declined to provide details of the discussions.

The confirmation follows recent high-level U.S. engagement. U.S. President Donald Trump’s Senior Advisor for Africa, Massad Boulos, met with army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan in Switzerland last month and subsequently contacted the RSF commander.

Boulos also held extensive meetings on the crisis with African Union officials in Addis Ababa in recent days.

Following a meeting with AU Commissioner Mahmoud Ali Youssef three days ago, Boulos said a roadmap approved by the Quad nations to end the war includes a clear timeframe.

The official said the Biden administration had imposed sanctions on entities to curb the influence of Sudan’s Islamist Movement and its “malicious history,” as well as to counter Iran’s destabilizing regional activities.

Washington recently sanctioned Gibril Ibrahim, leader of the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), and the al-Baraa bin Malik Brigade, accusing them of fuelling the conflict and having ties to Iran.

JEM has denied the accusations, while Sudan’s government said the sanctions “do not help in achieving peace.”

The roadmap proposed by the Quad group – comprising the United States, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Egypt – includes a three-month truce for humanitarian aid, followed by a nine-month political process aimed at restoring a civilian-led democratic transition.