Washington (TDI): US President Donald Trump has pledged to “start working” on ending the war in Sudan following a personal request from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, he announced Wednesday.
At a Saudi-US investment forum, Trump shared that the Crown Prince personally urged him, saying, “His majesty would like me to do something very powerful having to do with Sudan.”
Trump admitted that the Sudan crisis has not been a priority for him, saying he once viewed it as “a chaotic situation completely out of control.” However, he added that after recognizing the importance of the issue, he is now willing to take it on. “We’re going to begin working on Sudan.”
Meanwhile, Sudan’s Saudi-backed Sovereign Council, led by army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, announced that it is prepared to cooperate with both the United States and Saudi Arabia in efforts to end the conflict.
The Sudan conflict, which began in 2023, has emerged as a power struggle between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), ahead of a scheduled transition to civilian government.
Read More: What Is Happening in Sudan and Why It Is Not Getting the Attention It Deserves
The conflict has since evolved into brutal, ethnically driven violence, destroying entire communities and forcing millions from their homes. It has also drawn in regional and international actors, raising fears that Sudan could fragment.
The Saudi crown prince feels Trump’s direct pressure is required to break the deadlock in talks to end more than two and a half years of war, citing his efforts to establish a truce in Gaza last month.
Trump added that he would coordinate efforts with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and other regional partners to bring “atrocities” to an end and stabilize the country.
On social media, Trump called Sudan “the most violent place on Earth” and described it as the “single biggest humanitarian crisis,” citing urgent needs for food, doctors, and other assistance.
With Trump indicating a desire to engage and Sudan expressing a willingness to collaborate, regional and global actors are now waiting to see if renewed diplomatic pressure will ultimately open the door to peace.
Minahil Khurshid holds a master’s degree in Peace and Conflict Studies from CIPS, NUST. She has a strong interest in current affairs, geopolitics, and policy analysis.
