On 26 February, U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken announced the appointment of Tom Perriello as U.S. Special Envoy for Sudan to coordinate U.S. policy on Sudan and advance efforts to end the hostilities, secure unhindered humanitarian access, and support the Sudanese people as they seek to fulfil their aspirations for freedom, peace, and justice.
Special Envoy Perriello is on a tour of the East African region and told Radio Tamazuj during an exclusive interview that neither protagonist can win the war. The only path to peace, he said, is a negotiating table bringing together all the Sudanese people. He underscored that the U.S. government will continue to push for peace efforts in Sudan.
He shared his insights on the ongoing conflict in Sudan and the U.S. government’s efforts to engage all the parties to ensure humanitarian access in the war-affected areas.
Below are edited excerpts
A. The major accomplishment of the US-led talks was the opening of three major humanitarian access routes in the areas that had not seen emergency food and medicine for four months. We wanted to open the Adre road from the west, the Dalo road, across the north through Sennar State and some of the more inaccessible parts.
We have seen tens of millions of pounds worth of food and medicines delivered, but we have so much more to be done. We got commitment from the RSF and SAF to streamline the delivery of aid with a notification of a permission system. We are continuing to work on areas like Kadugli, and Kalakla.
Our group meets every week to push for more of the borders to be opened, more crosslines so that all corners of the country have access to food and medicine even if the war continues. We have seen some major gains but we need to see those gains continue to expand with the continued cooperation of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
We were also able to make some steps forward on the protection of civilians, including the first command directive from RSF to take responsibility for crimes and atrocities committed by their fighters. That is a tool that we will use to ensure accountability and other efforts to bring more resources to the people of Sudan.
A. We were disappointed by the army that spent four to five months keeping off the Jeddah process and then not coming to Geneva. We think this will miss opportunities to get a national cessation of hostilities. It is better you come to the table to try work on things like the enforcement of the earlier Jeddah agreements.
We made it very clear in the invitation and in multiple conversations that the implementation of Jeddah would be a core part of the talks in Geneva.
Therefore, it was a missed opportunity by the army but we were able to get their cooperation virtually on a few humanitarian access routes. We continue to engage with them to look for opportunities for humanitarian pauses or a cessation of hostilities.
A. Three major ones. The access from the west via Adre and the one on the Daba road from Port Sudan cross to Darfur. Sennar is not a complete access route, but there is a junction that allows access to the west.
Sometimes the rains impede passage, but we have these trucks ready to go whenever movement is possible. We have had particular local commanders from both RSF and SAF stop convoys, but we have been relatively successful in moving. In some cases, we have been able to use cash transfer localization to get resources to some of the hard-hit areas.
We have other areas like Kadugli, which remain isolated and we are working on getting permission from the army to do humanitarian flights into such areas.
We have a lot more work to do but it was a turning point opening these major access routes so that millions of Sudanese who face hunger start to get the emergency support.
A. We are in contact with all of the forces on the ground and we work with everybody on humanitarian access, to guarantee all benefit regardless of who occupies a territory. We tell them that innocent women and children need basic food and medicine and that should not be limited by the bad action of warring parties.
It is important that SPLM, SAF, RSF and any other fighting group allow humanitarian aid access. We will continue to engage with all sides to ensure that.
We have been working through OCHA and others on the airstrip that could help get food to Kadugli. No Sudanese should be denied access to food and medicine. The US will fight for that.
A. We have gotten some food and medicine into the Zamzam camp and into El-Fasher. However, it has remained a horrific scene of violence with tremendous limitation on humanitarian access. We have the commitment on the corridor to the south of the city, but we understand many would not consider that as a very safe route.
The US has been for four weeks negotiating for a ceasefire in El-Fasher. Unfortunately, SAF walked away from that deal and we will continue to push for pauses and ceasefire efforts.
A. The Sudanese people are deeply united in their desire to end this war and restart the civilian transition, with control on their own destiny. Sudan is a country of tremendous opportunity and diversity and that should be the focus of the partnership with the US to build an inclusive prosperity and democracy.
Unfortunately, those who believe that progress could be made by more fighting, are winning the day now. We believe there has been tremendous missed opportunity over the last six months to end this war though negotiations that would turn to that inclusive civilian transition and we would keep supporting efforts to end violence.
A. We have not only engaged both SAF and RSF about the need to avoid atrocities and crimes against humanity, we have taken action. The US has been leader on sanctioning individuals, not the country as a whole, but sanctioning individuals that commit these atrocities as well as businesses that have supported that. Most of those sanctions have been on RSF, particularly over the last six months. However, we have also done so to the army.
We have heard recent disturbing reports of atrocities and we will do our due diligence to look into the facts and will act accordingly.
A. The US has been very clear with countries throughout the world that they should not send weapons into Sudan. They should be partners of peace trying to rebuild Sudan.
We recently have led the efforts at the UN to extend the arms embargo into Darfur and we put forward sanctions for the RSF violations. Some are being ignored by the Russians but we hope to start to have full global sanctions on those that are violating the arms embargo.
We appreciate that more countries in the region have been pushing to limit the arms flow in, and a prop up the peace process.
A. We would have liked to complete the cessation of hostilities in the Jeddah process. Unfortunately, the army resisted for four months. We think Geneva could have been an opportunity for getting to a deal; again, SAF chose not to attend. Now, both sides seem intent on trying to win this war. We think that is a recipe for all sides to lose, particularly the Sudanese people. However, we think that there are several regional efforts that can be successful for peace talks.
One of the things that is so important for the army and RSF to remember is; even if the war continues, certain things like humanitarian access must be respected; the protection of civilians, not raping women, not starving children. These laws apply even if the war continues.
Even as the fighting continues we have to restore the basic human decency of ensuring access to food and medicine and the protection of civilians.
A. You are correct and the US has led the way on sanctioning individuals on both sides who have committed atrocities against civilians. We are working with many of our allies to expand those sanctions on people who committed atrocities and the businesses that enable them.
We need to see the protection of civilians by every armed group, whether military or militia. Same thing with humanitarian access.
The USS is leading the way but we need more partnership to help limit those bad actions and get back to a peaceful process.
A. We hear from the Sudanese people that they would like to see anything that brings peace to the country and certainly, there are more talks from the Sudanese about either the UN or African Union force. The SAF government has opposed that. In addition, our view is that the quickest and best solution is for the parties to come to the table, restore the civilian transition and end this war.
As we see more atrocities committed, especially in the areas of starvation, we need to keep on the table all options, particularly Africa-led solutions.
A. We are trying an international ceasefire and we have been pushing for a local one as well for El-Fasher, Khartoum and Sennar. Right now, both the RSF and SAF seem determined to fight. We expected a slow down with the onset of the rains cease, but we saw much more fighting during rainy season. However, it is never too late. Come to the table to negotiate a ceasefire whether that is local or international, the US is ready to be a partner on any effort to end the fighting in Sudan.
A. Hopefully soon. I have been trying for many months and there is prospects in the coming weeks. We are going to keep our fingers crossed and hope to be there in the coming weeks.
A. We seem to be of the same mind and will work through our two systems to see if I can get to Port Sudan.
I need to see the leadership there but also see more the Sudanese people. I am eager to be on the ground as well and hopefully that works soon.
A. No. The commitment on Sudan from the US is extremely strong and it is consistent in many ways across both the Republican and the Democratic administrations. I can’t speak for future administrations but I can tell you that in both the House and the Senate, there is extremely strong leadership and commitments from the Republicans and Democrats to continue in partnership with the Sudanese people and that is commitment to peace, the future inclusive democracy and prosperity so, I think you will all continue to see that.
I would say our refugee system around the world is incredibly stretched and that is why it has been so significant that the US committed another $450 million during the last week to support the refugee crisis and the internally displaced in Sudan.
We continue; under President Biden’s leadership to prioritize, Sudan but we know that the world is stretched. That is why the sooner as we can get the Sudanese returning to their homes, the better for everybody.
A. One of the things we did with the US-led talks in Geneva is that they are ongoing. We meet every week to look at where we can open additional humanitarian aid routes.
We are working constantly with this weekly check-ins to continue to expend that humanitarian access for the Sudanese people as well as looking at the opportunities for the protection of the civilians.
We are looking at local ceasefire opportunities across areas like Khartoum, Sennar and El-Fasher and we stand ready when the political will is there to continue.
We have a virtual world now where we can do this without necessarily going to the same place geographically. In addition, we along with Egypt and many other countries are actively engaged everyday with the parties. So far, the political will has not been there to find the path to peace, which we think is a tragic decision. However, we will continue to push every day for peace and for expanded humanitarian access.
A. This is a challenge of the matter of media landscape and I think the good news is that through platforms like WhatsApp, people are able to communicate more than ever before. On the other hand, we do not have the same editing process that can sort out facts from fiction.
We have plenty of information but the issue is whether we are getting accurate information. I think that is where people need to find news sources they trust and be willing to support the sources.
The US has invested in many countries, including Sudan and we think that independent journalism is a very important part of any democratic and accountable society. Again, I think everybody has a responsibility to try to monitor their information sources. Think a little bit before you spread something.
Again, people have the ability to receive and share information more than ever before and I think where we can feed that with good content and accurate journalism, it is a core part of what is going to get us into a healthier more stable Sudan.
A. Our message to the Sudanese is that we stand with you; we are working 24/7 to try to expand humanitarian access and get the ceasefire. I would say to the army and RSF that when we reach an agreement, everybody benefits.
Last, I think is that we have not forgotten about the revolution that inspired the world. This commitment to justice, inclusion, and to democratic future is something that continues to inspire all of us and it is the only path forward for Sudan.
We believe that more peaceful and democratic days are ahead, we will continue to work with all of the Sudanese and other regions to try to find that peace and the democratic future.
