The US special envoy to Sudan, Tom Perriello, expressed deep concerns on Thursday about the ongoing Sudan war and its uncertain end. Perriello’s statements came shortly after his first visit to Sudan since taking his post in February.
He revealed that the warring parties showed little political will to end the conflict, which erupted in mid-April 2023 due to escalating tensions between Sudan’s military and paramilitary forces.
The war, centered in the capital Khartoum and spreading to other regions, including Darfur, has devastated the country. Tens of thousands of lives have been lost, millions have been displaced, and the country faces a looming famine. 
Political Stalemate Continues to Fuel the Sudan War
The political situation in Sudan remains in turmoil, with no clear resolution in sight. The conflict began when tensions between the military and paramilitary forces escalated, causing violent clashes in Khartoum.
Since then, the Sudan war has claimed more than 20,000 lives and displaced over 14 million people. Despite international efforts to broker a ceasefire, most attempts have failed.
The most recent talks, mediated by the US, fell apart in August 2024 when the Sudanese military refused to attend talks in Geneva. Since then, violence has only intensified.
Perriello, speaking from Rome, emphasized the lack of political appetite from the Sudanese leaders to resolve the crisis. “We do not yet see enough political will from the parties to find a real resolution to this conflict,” he said. “Any solution must return control to the people.”
Atrocities and Humanitarian Crisis in the Sudan War
The humanitarian impact of the Sudan war is catastrophic. Reports of widespread atrocities, particularly by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), have alarmed international organizations.
The UN has condemned these forces for committing atrocities such as civilian killings and sexual violence in Darfur and other regions.
Furthermore, the country faces one of the worst displacement crises in the world, with millions forced to flee their homes. According to Perriello, the scale of human suffering is incomprehensible. “The numbers are astronomical,” he said. “The death toll is probably higher than anything that’s been estimated.”
The US envoy also underscored the urgent need for international support, particularly for the delivery of food and medicine to those affected by the war. Perriello met with Sudanese civil society leaders and humanitarian workers during his visit to encourage aid efforts.
However, he warned that many countries continue to fuel the conflict by supplying weapons to the warring parties.
Will the War Ever End? US Envoy Questions Global Response
Despite the ongoing crisis, global attention remains insufficient. The United States has condemned countries that continue arming both sides of the conflict, despite a UN arms embargo.
Perriello called for a halt to the flow of weapons into Sudan, emphasizing that countries should focus on humanitarian aid instead. “We have way too many countries pouring weapons into Sudan when they should be pouring in food and medicine,” he said.
As the war drags on, Sudan’s economy continues to suffer, and millions of civilians remain trapped in the violence. While President Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and paramilitary leader Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, both key players in the conflict, continue to fight for control, the people of Sudan continue to suffer.
The Uncertain End to the War
As Perriello stated, there is still no political will to end the Sudan war, and the international community’s response remains lacking. The fighting shows no sign of stopping, and the people of Sudan face the consequences of this devastating conflict.
As global powers continue to debate the future of the war, it remains unclear when or how this devastating crisis will come to an end.
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