President Donald Trump revealed on Wednesday that Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman asked him to help broker peace in Sudan’s ongoing civil war. Trump said he has already started working on a plan to bring calm to the country.
Speaking at the U.S.-Saudi Investment Forum in Washington, D.C., where MBS was also present, Trump shared that shortly after the crown prince highlighted the suffering in Sudan, he began efforts to address the conflict. "We started about 30 minutes after you explained to us the great importance of that," Trump said, expressing a new sense of urgency about the situation.
Sudan has been engulfed in violence since a 2023 clash erupted between two rival forces: the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), led by Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), headed by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo. The conflict has been devastating, with reports of war crimes and severe humanitarian crises. Tens of thousands of civilians, including many Christians, have been killed or displaced, and aid efforts face numerous challenges from both sides.
Trump described Sudan as a nation with a rich history and great potential that has fallen into chaos but believes it can be saved if regional countries work together. He promised to cooperate with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and others to end the violence and stabilize the country.
His call for peace drew support from Senate Foreign Relations Committee chair Jim Risch, who said Congress is ready to back any efforts to end the war and help Sudan recover.
The conflict’s roots trace back years, beginning with the downfall of dictator Omar al-Bashir in 2019 and the ill-fated transitional governments that followed. The 2021 coup further deepened instability, leading to the current war marked by brutal fighting and a growing humanitarian disaster.
International involvement complicates the crisis. The UAE reportedly provides weapons to the RSF, while Egypt, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia back the SAF. Trump’s challenge includes persuading these allies to cut off support to the warring factions.
Meanwhile, the Biden administration has been criticized for its slow response to the conflict, with some humanitarian groups saying the U.S. only began paying attention after the situation worsened significantly. The current U.S. State Department is reportedly engaging directly with both sides to broker a ceasefire, although progress remains uncertain.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio highlighted the RSF’s pattern of breaking agreements and committing serious abuses, including sexual violence and other atrocities against civilians. Rubio stressed the need to stop the flow of weapons fueling the conflict.
After Trump and MBS discussed peace efforts, Gen. Burhan welcomed their involvement and expressed willingness to work toward a fair resolution, a notable shift from his earlier stance of seeking to defeat the RSF completely.
As the fighting grinds on with no clear end in sight, many fear the war will spread, destabilizing neighboring countries. Trump’s pledge to tackle this crisis alongside powerful regional partners marks a new moment in international attention toward Sudan’s suffering and hopes for peace.
