Inadequate Mediation Efforts

There have been attempts at peacemaking:

1. American-mediated process in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - but even that did not go very far
2. IGAD (Intergovernmental Authority on Development) has tried to mediate
3. The so-called "Quad" (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, and the US) meeting in Washington

However, these efforts have been largely unsuccessful. Images emerged of Hamdan Dagalo's brother (the RSF leader's weapons specialist) inside these meetings, but they allegedly walked out because they wouldn't freeze the conflict where it was before El Fasher fell.

Kenya's Failed Leadership

Kenya was supposed to lead the peace process under IGAD, but very quickly President Burhan said that Kenya was not an independent arbiter. General Hemeti of RSF visited Kenya and met the Kenyan president, and as a result the ambassador of Sudan was recalled back to Khartoum.

The tendency by individual African countries to take steps in matters as complex as these without consultation is dangerous from a diplomatic standpoint because it undermines the diplomatic power of such countries.

African Union Paralysis

The African Union has been too lethargic. A major conflict of this kind has not animated African heads of states and government to convene an urgent meeting to discuss how to resolve the issue.

One commentator noted: "I'm aware that IGAD has tried to do something but IGAD should not be operating without reference to the African Union and that tells you how weak the situation is with African organization."

Western Disinterest

The Americans are now preoccupied with the war in Gaza and they have little regard or little concern for what is happening in Sudan because strategically the Middle East is much more important for them.

The attitude is almost: "Let them fight themselves until they resolve the problem either by way of surrender of the other or by way of defeat of the other" - a very unfortunate situation.

Europe has been similarly disengaged, with analysts noting that countries supporting the conflict parties (UAE, Egypt, Qatar, Turkey) are strategic partners for Western forces in other subjects, which is why probably a lot of countries shy away from applying the necessary pressure.