“The Crown Prince wants me to do something strong regarding the Sudan issue. I hadn’t planned to get involved before because it seemed like a crazy, out-of-control war,” Trump said while attending an investment forum in Washington on November 19 alongside the Saudi Crown Prince.
Trump added that he believes the issue is important not only to Crown Prince Mohammed but also to many Sudanese people, and therefore he “will start working” to help address the conflict.
Until now, Trump has rarely commented on the fighting between Sudan’s armed forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). His new commitment reflects his close ties with Saudi Arabia’s leadership, whom he received with high honors at the White House on November 18.
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“I don’t think this will be easy to resolve, but we will start,” Trump said. Sudanese army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan on November 19 thanked Washington and Riyadh for their “ongoing efforts to stop the bloodshed in Sudan.” He also expressed readiness to cooperate toward a peace agreement long hoped for by the Sudanese people.
Sudan’s civil war began two years ago due to a power struggle between the SAF and the RSF, former allies who jointly overthrew the transitional government led by Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok in 2021. The conflict has killed tens of thousands and forced nearly 12 million people from their homes since it erupted in April 2023. Saudi Arabia supports the SAF-allied government, while the SAF accuses the United Arab Emirates of backing the RSF with weapons and mercenaries—charges Abu Dhabi denies. The RSF recently captured the strategic city of Al-Fasher after a prolonged siege.
On November 14, the UN Human Rights Council ordered an investigation into alleged crimes related to the Sudan conflict. Massad Boulos, Trump’s African envoy, said on November 15 that the fighting in Sudan is currently “the world’s largest humanitarian crisis.”
Although the conflict is not one of Trump’s top priorities, Washington has recently stepped up efforts to push for a ceasefire between the warring parties. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio held a call last weekend with his UAE counterpart, urging the country to support a ceasefire in Sudan.