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Abstract

Extensive international intervention is one of the most prominent features of the ongoing war in Sudan since early 2023. As a result of the conflict that erupted between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, Sudan is witnessing what is widely recognized as one of the most severe humanitarian crises in modern history; It has been characterized by massive displacement, large-scale refugee flows, and famine, along with widespread human rights violations and crimes against humanity—both direct and indirect consequences of military operations that have raged across thirteen of Sudan’s states, where the Rapid Support Forces are actively engaged. The role of the international community has become a driving force prolonging the conflict through its funding, rather than contributing to ending the crisis.

The main dilemma has become the failure of previous international mediation efforts to stop the war. This failure stems from the conflicting interests of the countries involved in the conflict, which has deprived these mediations of the necessary neutrality and seriousness to halt the war. Instead, the conflict has transformed into an arena for geopolitical competition to manage the conflict and consolidate the regional influence of the participating countries.

Given the excessive reliance on international actors to resolve the crisis in Sudan, there is a clear need to redefine mediation efforts by adopting "national ownership." This would enable Sudanese men and women to become an essential part of designing negotiation processes and ensuring that the political process is representative of all. Ending the war through a Sudanese-led process would clearly define and mitigate the risks of external involvement, ultimately benefiting all citizens.

This approach would evade the risks of fragile compromises between internal and external forces, leading to sustainable peace and transitional justice processes that guarantee an end to impunity and the establishment of a state based on citizenship.

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