Maj. Gen. al-Basha Tabeq, an adviser to Rapid Support Forces (RSF) commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti), said recent, separate meetings in Switzerland between U.S. presidential adviser for Arab and African affairs Musaad Boulos and both Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and RSF Commander Hemedti raise questions about timing and intent amid a stalled peace process and failed regional initiatives.
In an interview with Erem News, Tabeq noted there has been no official U.S. confirmation of the encounters, but said their appearance across multiple media at a highly sensitive moment is itself notable.
He argued Washington has lately moved to resolve several international files—especially in Africa and the Middle East—through a stabilization approach that avoids direct military intervention, citing cases such as Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Iran and Israel. The postponement of the Sudan “Quartet” meeting, he added, has pushed the U.S. to explore alternative tracks, and Boulos’ outreach may signal an American bid to recast Sudan’s political equation in line with U.S. strategic interests.
Tabeq described the Sudan file as particularly delicate given months of deadlock and the collapse of regional efforts. He said the U.S. strategy seeks to end conflicts in Africa and the Middle East at minimal cost while steering clear of quagmires like Afghanistan, Somalia and Iraq.
Given Sudan’s strategic location and resources, he said, Washington has strong incentives to move the process forward. He characterized current U.S. policy as a “carrot-and-stick” approach aimed at preserving American leadership and core interests.
On Sudan, Tabeq concluded, the U.S. appears serious about pushing toward a settlement that protects its interests and those of its allies, adding that the coming days should clarify Boulos’ next steps.
