U.S. President Donald Trump’s advisor for African affairs, Messaad Boulos, revealed that Washington will soon host a high-level diplomatic summit aimed at reviving stalled efforts to end the war in Sudan.
In an interview with Asharq News, Boulos said Secretary of State Marco Rubio is preparing to convene a meeting in Washington that will bring together the foreign ministers of the Quad countries — Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, and the United States — to address the Sudan conflict, which has been raging since April 2023.
“This initiative is being revived,” Boulos said. “It will happen soon.”
No “proxy war” label
Asked whether Washington considers the conflict a civil war or a proxy war, Boulos responded firmly: “We do not see it as a proxy war — it’s a Sudanese war.” Still, he acknowledged that both General al-Burhan’s army (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have received backing from foreign actors.
“It’s a painful war, especially on the humanitarian front,” Boulos added, citing the mass displacement crisis. “There are around 5.5 to 6 million Sudanese displaced in Egypt alone.”
Boulos said the Trump administration has grown increasingly concerned by the inability to deliver humanitarian aid into Sudan. President Trump and Secretary Rubio, he said, have called for a more forceful diplomatic approach, prompting the U.S. to push ahead with the upcoming summit.
Two governments?
Addressing fears that Sudan is headed toward a dual-government scenario, Boulos said the U.S. remains in contact — directly or indirectly — with both sides. He noted that the Quad is actively engaged with all stakeholders.
“There is no military solution to this conflict,” he stressed. “There is a peaceful path forward, but both parties must accept that. The outcome cannot favor one side at the expense of the other — it must include everyone. That is the only way out.”
