A senior adviser to the US president on Arab and African affairs, Massad Boulos, said Friday there is an “urgent need” to secure a permanent ceasefire in Sudan as the conflict enters its third year.
In a post on X, Boulos said he held what he described as productive discussions with the foreign ministers of Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia as part of ongoing diplomatic efforts to reinforce a humanitarian truce in Sudan.
He said the talks focused on the severity of the humanitarian crisis, the immense suffering endured by civilians and the pressing need to ensure a lasting cessation of hostilities.
“We reaffirmed our shared commitment to supporting all efforts aimed at alleviating humanitarian suffering and advancing a sustainable path toward peace and stability,” Boulos wrote.
Sudan has been gripped by war since April 2023 between General al-Burhan’s army (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces. The conflict has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced around 11 million, triggering one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
On Thursday, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said civilian deaths in Sudan more than doubled in 2025 compared with the previous year. He warned that thousands of additional victims remain unidentified or missing.
“This war is horrific. It is bloody and senseless,” Turk told the UN Human Rights Council, blaming both parties to the conflict.
