CAIRO – The U.S. special envoy to Sudan emphasized the urgent need for more and faster aid deliveries in the conflict-ravaged nation, suggesting the use of humanitarian corridors and pauses. In a Sunday visit, Tom Perriello discussed these measures with Sudanese government leaders, advocating for immediate implementation to alleviate suffering.
“We are pleased that there has been some progress, but we need to see much more,” Perriello stated in an interview. Recent steps include the army’s approval of flights to famine-stricken South Kordofan and extended use of the Adre border crossing into Darfur. The 19-month conflict between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has caused severe food shortages and disease. Both factions face accusations: the RSF for looting aid and the army for bureaucratic delays.
Perriello outlined proposals for humanitarian access to key regions such as Khartoum, Omdurman, ElGezira, al-Fashir, and Sennar. He expressed hope that these plans could bring life-saving aid to Sudanese in dire need.
Despite these efforts, Sudanese sovereign council head Abdel Fattah al-Burhan expressed skepticism about swift progress. “The war must stop first, and the rebels must leave the areas they have occupied,” Burhan said in a speech on Tuesday. He insisted that normalcy must return before widespread relief efforts can be implemented.
Negotiations between the army and the RSF, mediated by the U.S., have yet to yield a ceasefire. Perriello remains hopeful, noting continued dialogue with RSF leadership to negotiate both humanitarian access and potential pathways to peace.