Khartoum Pushes Back Against Washington: Sovereignty Is a Red Line

Khartoum — The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has categorically and strongly rejected the statement issued by the U.S. Department of State on September 22, 2026, reaffirming Sudan’s firm adherence to its national sovereignty and legitimate institutions. It called on Washington to engage positively with the Sudanese government on the basis of mutual respect, away from external dictates or attempts to legitimize the rebel force.

In a statement received by Sudanese Echoes, the Ministry said Sudan rejects any attempt to turn negotiations into a means of rewarding the rebellion for its crimes against civilians or equating it with the legitimate institutions of the state. The Ministry stressed that any peace initiative intended to succeed and endure must be based on respect for Sudan’s sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity, while addressing the root causes of the continuation of the war, foremost among them negative external interference.

While rejecting the latest position of the U.S. State Department, the Sudanese government expressed its deep appreciation for statements by U.S. President Donald Trump, particularly his earlier announcement on November 19, 2025, of his administration’s intention to engage in efforts to end the war in response to the initiative proposed by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

The Ministry also welcomed the substance of Trump’s recent address to the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, in which he stressed the importance of ending conflicts and preventing them from escalating further.

The statement explained that the outbreak of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia rebellion on April 15, 2023, marked a catastrophic turning point in the region. It noted that the Sudanese government participated positively in the Jeddah negotiations, under Saudi-U.S. sponsorship, but that the militia reneged on its commitments and humanitarian understandings and continued to commit violations because of its links to external agendas and interests.

The Ministry added that it had engaged constructively with U.S. efforts within the “Quad,” despite its legitimate reservations about the roles of international parties proven to be involved in arming and financing the rebellion.

The Ministry affirmed that peace remains its strategic objective, provided that it guarantees the exclusive possession of weapons by the legitimate state institutions and ends the presence of militias, thereby creating the conditions for an exclusively Sudanese political process that meets the aspirations of the Sudanese people for democracy and justice.

Sudan also renewed its readiness to engage responsibly with regional and international partners that act impartially, foremost among them Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, Russia, China, Türkiye, and Pakistan, alongside the Arab League, the African Union, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.