Former US Diplomat: Trump Will Not Allow Sudan to Become a Haven for Terrorism

Sudan Events – Agencies 

Former US diplomat Cameron Hudson stated that President Donald Trump’s administration would be concerned about the war in Sudan because it does not want Sudan to become a safe haven for terrorism, nor does it want it to fragment into something like Somalia or Libya.

In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat from Nairobi, Kenya, he added that the US administration seeks to maintain security along the Red Sea, “which means keeping Russia and Iran from acquiring any bases in that region.” The administration also wants to ensure that maritime traffic moves safely.

Hudson, a senior researcher at the Africa Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, explained that the Trump administration is also concerned with peace in the Middle East. To achieve this, it needs to expand the Abraham Accords previously signed by Sudan. However, he questioned how such an agreement could expand amidst the war Sudan is experiencing. For peace to prevail in Sudan, there must also be peace in the Middle East.

Russian Naval Base

Regarding the agreement between Sudan and Russia granting Russia a naval base on the Red Sea, Hudson said: “I’m not sure about the validity of that agreement, but if it’s true, it would definitely be a significant issue for Trump. He would likely react strongly to make Sudan understand that such an agreement was a bad choice, and ‘people should fear that.'” He added, “That’s why I hope not to see Russia threaten his interests in the Red Sea.”

On the priority of Sudan’s file, Hudson said: “The Trump administration has not yet appointed its team to manage African affairs, which requires the appointment of officials who can handle this issue. This may not happen immediately, but I hope it will be soon, as the situation in Sudan requires swift action. I am confident that President Trump will appoint a special envoy for Sudan, which will help create a new perspective on what can be done in Sudan.”

Hudson anticipated that the Trump administration would adapt to any changes brought about by the war in Sudan, particularly military developments. “The situation now is that the Sudanese army has managed to retake the capital, Khartoum, but there is also the possibility that the Rapid Support Forces could take control of El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur state, and thus dominate the entire Darfur region. This could lead to the establishment of a second government in El Fasher.”

US Administration’s Options

He continued: “I can’t predict how President Trump’s administration would respond to this scenario. The current situation may open up possibilities for peace negotiations, which I believe the US administration would support. However, this scenario could also lead to chaos depending on how things evolve. In Libya, there are two governments, and we’re talking to both of them.” Hudson referenced a testimony by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio before Congress, where he described the Rapid Support Forces as a militia responsible for committing acts of genocide. He said, “That’s why I don’t believe the State Department can enter negotiations with them or treat the government in El Fasher as a legitimate one.”

He added: “I expect Trump’s administration to perform better than President Joe Biden’s administration in handling the Sudanese issue. The Biden administration treated both the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces as equally guilty and illegitimate. We hope the Trump administration will recognize that the Sudanese army, despite committing war crimes, remains a constitutional institution of the state and should be treated as such.”

Biden Was Slow

Hudson believed that “the Biden administration was slow in its response when the October 25, 2021 coup occurred and when the war broke out. Its response was delayed, and it did not appoint a special envoy until a year after the war had been raging. I think the Biden administration didn’t give Sudan enough attention. It was initially inactive, then stated that it treated the army and Rapid Support Forces equally, before halting its negotiations with the military and those fighting on the ground, deciding only to engage with the civilian forces. But these forces were not organized or unified and lacked a clear vision to stop the war.”

Hudson continued that the previous administration’s attempt to revert Sudan to the revolutionary stage was misguided and that it couldn’t turn back time, abandoning the reality of the war that had already begun.

Regarding US sanctions on the leaders of both warring parties, Army Commander Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Rapid Support Forces leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemeti), he said: “If the Biden administration wanted to impose sanctions, it should have done so at the start of the war, not in the final days.”

Hudson added: “I think the previous administration misused sanctions, but in any case, they remain in effect. The Trump administration has the opportunity to use these sanctions to influence what happens in Sudan, setting conditions for lifting them, particularly from General Burhan. In my view, the US administration should publicly outline how it can lift the sanctions and specify the conditions for doing so.”

Burhan Doesn’t Want War

The former US diplomat described Sudan’s Sovereign Council Chairman, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, during his visit to Port Sudan last November, as a “very wise” general, sensing that the war is devastating for his country, people, and economy.

He said, “What I heard from him was that he does not want this war to continue longer than necessary,” and believes that the reasons to end the war are not sufficient. “There must be peace, he does not want the fighting to stop, only for the war to start again.”

Hudson noted: “In my view, Burhan wants to end the war, but he must find a solution to the threat of the Rapid Support Forces. Therefore, it’s not just about stopping the war, for him, there needs to be a sustainable solution in Sudan to prevent the war from recurring. This is what people need to think about.”

Hudson pointed out the good relations that President Donald Trump had with Sudan’s Arab neighbors, saying: “All these countries have interests in Sudan, which can be incorporated into a deal to help Sudan emerge from the war. I think President Trump will use his influence to encourage dialogue… but as I’ve told some people before, it’s difficult to predict his actions, and you can never know what he will do.”