Trump advisor: There is no military solution to the Sudanese crisis, and we support diplomacy
In an exclusive statement to Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper, a senior advisor to former US President Donald Trump confirmed that the potential US administration, should he win the elections, believes that the solution to the Sudanese crisis cannot be military, stressing the need to adopt a comprehensive diplomatic path that brings together all parties to end the devastating conflict that has been plaguing the country for more than a year.
The advisor, who preferred to remain anonymous at this time, explained that any attempt to impose a military solution by either side in the conflict—the Sudanese army led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan or the Rapid Support Forces led by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti)—would only lead to further bloodshed, a deepening humanitarian catastrophe, and the disintegration of the Sudanese state. He added that the foreign policy of a potential Trump administration would focus on supporting serious negotiations aimed at forming a civilian-led transitional government that represents the aspirations of the Sudanese people.
Background of the conflict and its repercussions
To understand the dimensions of this statement, it is necessary to go back to the roots of the crisis that erupted on April 15, 2023. The conflict was not born of the moment, but rather is the product of deep political accumulations and tensions that followed the overthrow of Omar al-Bashir’s regime in 2019. Burhan and Hemedti were key allies in the military council that took power, but disagreements over the process of integrating the Rapid Support Forces into the army and the structure of the military and security leadership, in addition to the struggle for influence and resources, led to the situation exploding and turning into open war in the capital, Khartoum, and other cities.
Since its outbreak, the conflict has left thousands dead and millions displaced and refugees, causing the world’s worst internal displacement crisis. It has also led to the near-total collapse of the health sector and infrastructure, and pushed millions of Sudanese to the brink of famine, in a humanitarian catastrophe described by the United Nations as being of “mythical proportions.”.
The importance of the situation and its potential impact
This stance is particularly significant because it comes from a circle close to a prominent presidential candidate, offering a glimpse into the potential direction of US policy toward one of the most complex crises in Africa and the Middle East. Domestically, this statement could send a message to both sides of the conflict that external support for any military solution will be limited, potentially prompting them to reassess their strategies and return to the negotiating table.
Regionally, this stance places additional pressure on regional powers involved in the Sudanese issue, such as Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, to unify their diplomatic efforts and support peace initiatives like the Jeddah Platform. Internationally, the statement reflects a growing consensus among major powers that the continuation of the war threatens the stability of the entire Horn of Africa and Red Sea region, and opens the door to the expansion of extremist groups and negative foreign interventions. The emphasis on a diplomatic solution by an influential figure in US politics strengthens the prospects for building a unified international front to press for peace in Sudan.
