American expert Cameron Hudson raised questions regarding the objectives of U.S. Special Envoy to Africa, Masud Pauls’ visit to Cairo, noting that the trip was not merely a diplomatic tour but aimed to meet Sudan’s Transitional Sovereignty Council Chairman, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, to discuss sensitive issues related to counterterrorism and the lifting of U.S. sanctions on Khartoum.
Hudson, a former official in the U.S. Special Envoy for Sudan office at the State Department, commented on X (formerly Twitter) that Pauls also sought to urge the U.S. administration to pressure the UAE to stop supporting the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which have been fighting the Sudanese army since the war erupted in April 2023.
He added that Pauls’ visit is part of Washington’s accelerated diplomatic efforts to reassess its strategy in Sudan, particularly in light of growing human rights and political pressure within the United States regarding the UAE’s role in fueling the conflict.
Observers note that Cairo represents a pivotal hub for regional coordination on Sudan, especially amid intensified U.S.–Egyptian communications to find a political solution that ensures Sudan’s unity and stability.
No official comment has yet been issued by Envoy Pauls or the U.S. State Department regarding Hudson’s account of the meetings and the visit’s agenda.
