Qatar Brokers Secret Meeting between Al-Burhan and US Official at US’s Request in Switzerland
A senior diplomatic source in the US State Department said that the US administration, through multiple diplomatic channels, is communicating with the Sudanese parties.
The source refrained from confirming or denying press reports of a meeting between President of Sudan’s Transitional Sovereignty Counciln (TSC), Abdel-Fattah Al-Burhan, and US Presidential Advisor, Massad Boulos, in Switzerland on Monday night.
In response to a question posed by Sudan Tribune regarding the details of this meeting, he said: “Through multiple diplomatic channels, we continue to communicate with the parties and their representatives. I will not go into the details of these talks… We are committed to supporting a dialogue that leads to peace and ends the suffering of the Sudanese people.”
No statements have been issued by the Sudanese authorities regarding the meeting between Al-Burhan and Boulos or the nature of these talks, nor have they revealed the identity of the delegation accompanying Al-Burhan.
The Sudanese news website Al-Muhaqeq quoted informed sources as saying that the meeting between Al-Burhan and the US official was arranged by a high-level Qatari delegation. The meeting, which lasted approximately three hours, underscored the necessity to stop the war in Sudan and address the humanitarian crisis. It also highlighted the need to initiate direct negotiations between Sudan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to reduce tensions between the two countries and pressure Abu Dhabi to prevent its continued support for the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
Later, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported, citing two Sudanese government sources, that Army Commander Abdel-Fattah Al-Burhan and US Senior Advisor for Africa, Massad Boulos, met in Switzerland to discuss a US peace plan.
The report stated that the two sides held a three-hour meeting on Monday, where they discussed a US proposal for a comprehensive ceasefire in Sudan and the delivery of humanitarian aid.
Al-Arabiya reported on Tuesday, citing unnamed sources, that Al-Burhan’s meeting with the US special envoy in Switzerland was at the request of the United States, and that Al-Burhan confirmed to Trump’s advisor his rejection of the Rapid Support Forces’ presence in power following the war.
It is be recalled that the United States canceled a meeting of the Quartet on July 29th, which was scheduled to be held in Washington to discuss the Sudanese crisis.