Al-Burhan Calls on US Leadership to Bring Peace as Sudan War Devastates Millions
Khartoum – Sudan’s army chief, Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, called on former US President Donald Trump on Wednesday to help bring an end to the devastating Sudan war, which has raged since April 2023.
In an op-ed published in The Wall Street Journal, Burhan wrote: “The Sudanese people now look to Washington to take the next step: to build on the US president’s honesty and work with us — and those in the region who genuinely seek peace — to end this war.”
A War With Massive Human Cost
The conflict erupted between Burhan and his former deputy, Rapid Support Forces (RSF) commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, and has since claimed tens of thousands of lives. Over 12 million people have been displaced, creating what the UN calls the world’s largest hunger and displacement crisis.
Peace attempts between the rival leaders have repeatedly failed. However, Trump recently expressed interest in mediating, after encouragement from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman. Burhan noted that many Sudanese view Trump as a decisive leader capable of confronting foreign actors prolonging their suffering.
International Involvement and Allegations
The US, UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt are actively trying to broker a ceasefire. In his op-ed, Burhan framed the conflict starkly: “The choice is between a sovereign state trying to protect its citizens and a genocidal militia bent on destroying communities.”
While Burhan’s government is internationally recognized, his forces have also faced accusations of targeting civilians and shelling residential areas. Meanwhile, the RSF has been accused of committing genocide in Darfur, as determined by the US in January.
The Roots of the Conflict
Burhan and Dagalo were once allies, working together to oust civilians from Sudan’s transitional government in 2021. The RSF commander, initially contracted to fight peripheral wars on Sudan’s behalf, rose to become Burhan’s right-hand man following the 2018-2019 uprising.
A long-standing power struggle between the two leaders erupted into full-scale war on April 15, 2023, engulfing the country in violence. Burhan reflected in his op-ed: “I long recognized that the RSF was a powder keg.”
Looking Ahead
As the Sudanese people continue to bear the brunt of the war, Burhan’s appeal underscores the urgency of international engagement. The coming weeks may determine whether diplomacy can finally end the violence or if the humanitarian toll will continue to rise.
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