US President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that he will begin addressing the conflict in Sudan after a direct appeal from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Speaking at a Saudi-US business forum, Trump framed the effort as a personal initiative driven by the Crown Prince’s request.
Since April 2023, fighting between Sudan’s army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced nearly 12 million people.
“His majesty asked me to do something very powerful regarding Sudan,” Trump said. “It wasn’t on my radar, but I see how important it is to you and many others here. We’re going to start working on Sudan.”
Washington has consistently urged Sudan’s warring factions to finalize a truce, while Trump’s Africa envoy, Massad Boulos, described the war as the “world’s biggest humanitarian crisis.” Despite this, Trump has largely focused on conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine, touting his record of mediating eight disputes since returning to office in January.
Observers note that Trump’s commitment reflects his close ties with the Saudi Crown Prince, whom he hosted at the White House just a day earlier. During that visit, Trump defended the prince over the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, asserting that the royal “knew nothing.”
The announcement signals Trump’s intent to step into one of Africa’s most devastating crises, even as international pressure mounts for a sustainable resolution.
