US considers wider sanctions on Sudanese army and RSF as ceasefire efforts falter

"Last week Donald Trump announced that work had begun to end the war after a personal request for his direct intervention from the Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman. But Boulos, the father-in-law of Trump's daughter Tiffany, has in fact been trying for months to persuade the Sudanese army and its rival, the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, to back a ceasefire, to little end."

"The US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, told a cabinet meeting at the White House on Wednesday that Trump was the only leader in the world capable of resolving the Sudan crisis. The Guardian understands that the warring parties have been told it is highly likely that Trump will use a far broader range of punitive sanctions on groups that he regards as standing in the way of a ceasefire."

"Norway's foreign ministry is preparing to invite a broad range of Sudanese society to Oslo in the coming weeks to map out the parameters of how a civilian government could be restored in the event of the conflict ending. According to the UN, the war has killed 40,000 people though some rights groups say the death toll is significantly higher and has created the world's worst humanitarian crisis, with more than 14 million people displaced."

The US is considering a much broader range of sanctions on belligerents in Sudan. Donald Trump announced work had begun to end the war after a personal request from Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman. US envoy Massad Boulos has tried for months to persuade the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces to accept a ceasefire, with little success. US secretary of state Marco Rubio told a White House cabinet meeting that Trump is the only leader capable of resolving the Sudan crisis. Warring parties have been warned that Trump is likely to use a far broader range of punitive sanctions. Norway plans Oslo talks to map how a civilian government could be restored if the conflict ends. The UN reports about 40,000 killed and more than 14 million displaced. Saudi Arabia and Egypt broadly support the army, while the RSF has backing from the United Arab Emirates.

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